Don’t succumb to politicians’ intimidation, APC chief tells INEC chair

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has advised the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to discharge his duties without fear.

The Osun APC chieftain also charged Amupitan to apply rules without favour, and steadfastness not to succumb to intimidation and harassment by the politicians.

Oyintiloye, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, also urged the new INEC boss to demonstrate a high level of courage and integrity in the face of intimidation from politicians, especially opposition parties, ahead of the off-cycle and general elections.

The former lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency in Osun State House of Assembly also admonished Amupitan to justify the confidence reposed in him and resist all forms of undue pressure from opposition politicians, who may seek to blackmail the commission to discredit valid electoral processes.

The commission, under Amupitan’s leadership, must act in line with the established rules and regulations, as well as acceptable standard practice, to avoid committing errors in the face of pressure from politicians.

“All eyes are on the new INEC boss, and I want to advise him to stay focused and resist all forms of pressure that could undermine the integrity of the commission.

“Amupitan must ignore all forms of negative criticism and ensure he abides by the laid-down rules and regulations for the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

Those who lost elections will continue to undermine the efforts of the Commission in ensuring credible elections in the country for their own personal gain, but the INEC boss must fear no one. He must apply the rules without favour,” Oyintiloye said.

Commending President Bola Tinubu for appointing Amupitan for the top job, the ex-lawmaker further said the choice of the new INEC boss could not have been a mistake.

He also said Amupitan’s appointment by the President was an indication that he has capacity to sanitise the country’s electoral processes, noting that the November Anambra governorship election and the 2026 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun would be a good test of the new INEC boss’s capacity to deliver on his mandate.

The admonition by Oyintiloye was coming on the heels of divided views expressed by the opposition parties regarding their expectations from the new INEC boss, before his appointment was eventually confirmed by the Senate.

The PUNCH reports on October 12, 2025, that President Tinubu’s appointment of Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman sparked sharp divisions within the opposition, reopening debates about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and the long-delayed push for electoral reforms.

Tinubu described Amupitan, a Kogi-born law professor, as an “apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” telling the council that his choice was based on “record of service and character.”

But before the President sent Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation, opposition leaders had expressed divided opinion over whether the appointment represents continuity or change in Nigeria’s troubled electoral landscape.

While some admit that Tinubu acted within the ambit of the law, others fear that the appointment could reinforce perceptions of political interference ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, said there was little legal ground to fault the President’s action.

As long as the constitution has not been amended, the right to appoint remains with him. After all, the National Assembly has not made any amendments to the extant laws.

“So, the onus is on civil society organisations and the reformers, those who want electoral reforms, to push hard enough. Until the National Assembly amends those laws, the President will take advantage of the laws that are existing laws.

“It is obvious the next election may not be free and fair. It is a case of he who pays the piper calling the tunes,” Akeni said.

Akeni also urged opposition leaders to move beyond social media rhetoric and take concrete action.

“What the opposition can do is to take physical action instead of posting tweets that will amount to nothing. What people like Atiku, Obi and other opposition leaders should do is to come together and hit the streets.

Tweets are not going to get us out of where we are. It is mass action that can do that,” he argued.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said Amupitan’s emergence once again highlights the urgency of implementing the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Report, which recommends an open, merit-based selection process for INEC leadership.

“I must tell you sincerely that I stand by the recommendation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais report. That is the only thing that can give credit to our electioneering.

“The report clearly stipulated that the vacant position should be advertised for equity and justice. If we don’t do that, these elections will be marred with a lot of irregularities, and there will be danger ahead of us,” Tanko stated.

However, not all opposition voices are critical. The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, defended the legality of Tinubu’s decision, even while acknowledging the broader calls for reform.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing anybody can do since the Constitution has not been amended. Until that is done, we can’t stop Tinubu from appointing anybody he wants.

“This is one of the changes we are seeking to get amended in the Constitution and Electoral Act,” he said.

Johnson, however, cautioned that the credibility of the new INEC boss would depend on his actions in office.

He said, “It is too early to tell his mind. We have to see his body language and what he stands for. But unfortunately for him, people know the President a lot and believe he will ordinarily not appoint someone who will not work for him.

“We can only hope for the best.”