by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The “Peter Obi our President” (PETOOPO) group has demanded for an immediate resignation of Prof. Josh Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying, “Because it has abandoned its role as an ‘impartial umpire’ and has descended into partisanship.”
The group was led by its spokesperson, Magnus Oraka, the National Convener of PETOOP, who disclosed that, INEC’s ‘partisan interference’ in Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) affairs has revealed that, the leadership of INEC under Prof. Joash Amupitan is not only partisan but blatantly biased.
Magnus Oraka made the assertion, while briefing Journalists during a press conference at the NUJ secretariat in Jos on Saturday, with a theme: ‘Securing Nigeria’s Future: A Press Conference on Political Justice and Electoral Integrity.’
He said “INEC Chairman, who declares victory is sure before a single ballot is cast, has already abandoned a free, fair and credible election. Victory is sure for whom? For the APC? For Tinubu? That single tweet has expressed the rot at the heart of his leadership.”
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by removing the INEC Chairman immediately, if he refuses to resign, adding, “And, if the President fails to act, the National Assembly must invoke its constitutional powers to restore the integrity of our electoral management body.”
According to him, a partisan INEC is a death of free elections. We will not accept a situation where the umpire wears the Jersey of one team.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) must allow their Presidential flag-bearer to come from the south of Nigeria; failure to do so is tantamount to gifting the ruling party under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a smooth victory in 2027,” he said.
While calling on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stop what it termed as “his desperation bid” at all costs, Magnus Oraka noted that, “From 1960 to date, the North has ruled Nigeria more times than the south. The south has the greater claim to produce the next President.”