…Hails Professor Amupitan on His Appointment
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Gbaramatu Clan, has congratulated Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, on his appointment as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while urging a temporary halt to voter registration in the Warri Federal Constituency pending the enforcement of updated ward boundaries.
In a statement signed by Oyinkuro Wazo Zikurebai (Chairman), Tracy Lawei Edolo (Secretary), and Ari Ebimotimi (Information Officer), the Council lauded Professor Amupitan’s distinguished legal career, highlighting his expertise in Evidence and Corporate Governance, his tenure as Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and membership of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
The Council expressed confidence that the new INEC Chairman would uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen democratic processes, and ensure fairness and transparency.
Highlighting a key concern for the Warri Federal Constituency, the IYC urged that all ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises be temporarily suspended until the July 2024 ward delineation report is properly gazetted and enforced. The Council warned that conducting voter registration under outdated boundaries could undermine the integrity of the electoral roll and disenfranchise entire communities, whose constitutional rights must be protected.
The statement further emphasized that implementing the ward delineation is critical to guaranteeing equitable representation and restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
Concluding the message, the IYC wished Professor Amupitan wisdom, fortitude, and divine guidance in leading INEC toward a credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral process for all Nigerians.
Read full statement below:
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Gbaramatu Clan, extends its heartfelt congratulations to Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, on his recent and well-deserved appointment as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Professor Amupitan’s appointment is a testament to his illustrious career and his outstanding contributions to legal scholarship and public service. His profound expertise as a Professor of Law, particularly in the areas of Evidence and Corporate Governance, alongside his distinguished tenure as Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, reflects a leadership pedigree that commands both respect and confidence.
As a man of proven integrity and deep legal insight, we are confident that Professor Amupitan will bring to bear his wealth of experience in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, upholding justice, and ensuring the sanctity of the democratic process.
In this regard, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Gbaramatu Clan, respectfully urges the new INEC Chairman to prioritise the implementation of the July 2024 ward delineation report within the Warri Federal Constituency. This long-overdue action remains critical to guaranteeing equitable representation and restoring the confidence of our people in the electoral process.
We further appeal that all ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises within the constituency be temporarily suspended until the delineation exercise is properly gazetted and enforced. Conducting voter registration under outdated boundaries would not only undermine the integrity of the electoral roll but also disenfranchise entire communities whose constitutional rights must be protected.
We trust that under Professor Amupitan’s watch, INEC will demonstrate the fairness, transparency, and courage required to uphold the principles of democracy and justice, which have been the hallmarks of his distinguished career.
Once again, we congratulate Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, on this noble national assignment and wish him wisdom, fortitude, and divine guidance as he leads the Commission towards a more credible and inclusive electoral future for all Nigerians.
