Newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has declared that his administration will stop endless pre-election litigations that have long undermined Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held at the University of Abuja on Monday, Amupitan said one of his top priorities is to stop what he described as “courtroom warfare” that often begins even before elections are conducted.
Amupitan, who assumed office barely a week ago after being sworn in by President Bola Tinubu, lamented that over 1,000 pre-election cases were filed ahead of the 2023 general elections, describing the trend as “litigation by other means.”
“That is not democracy,” he said. “If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse. My goal is to make the law an instrument of change, not chaos.”
The INEC boss added that his ultimate vision is to build a system where even losing candidates would willingly congratulate the winners, saying that would mark the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy.
Calls for Electoral Law Reform
Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and respected academic, urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws, stressing that credible elections depend on sound legal frameworks and the internal democracy of political parties.
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He acknowledged that reducing election-related cases might not please some legal practitioners, but insisted that the move is vital for restoring public confidence in the electoral system.
“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections,” he maintained. “Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom.”
Law as a Tool for Reform
Addressing the gathering of law teachers, jurists, and students, Amupitan charged the academic community to view law as an instrument for reform and justice rather than personal gain.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Council of State Picks Kogi-born Amupitan as INEC Chairman
“As law teachers, we must lead by example, building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he said.
NALT Commends INEC’s Vision
Earlier in his remarks, NALT President and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Prof. John Akintayo, commended the INEC chairman’s vision, saying law remains the backbone of governance and sustainable development.
“A nation’s progress depends on how its laws anticipate, adapt to, and shape change,” Akintayo stated.
Conference Chairman and Dean of Law, University of Abuja, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, explained that this year’s gathering focuses on issues such as food security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and legal reforms, areas where law must evolve to address emerging challenges.
The conference, themed “Law, National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalised World,” drew participants from across the country and the diaspora.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
