The new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has pledged to end the long-standing culture of excessive pre-election court cases that have characterized Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking on Monday at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the University of Abuja, Amupitan said one of his primary goals as INEC chairman is to stop what he described as “courtroom warfare” that often begins long before Nigerians go to the polls.
The INEC boss, who was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu just a week ago, expressed concern that the electoral body recorded over 1,000 pre-election lawsuits ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“That is not democracy. That is litigation by other means,” he said firmly.
Amupitan emphasized that the solution lies not in endless court battles but in strict compliance with the law, especially by political parties.
“If political parties follow their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” he said. “My goal is simple, to make the law an instrument of change, not chaos. When we get the law right, even losers will be the first to congratulate the winners. That is when our democracy can truly be said to have matured.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also called on the National Assembly to strengthen the country’s electoral laws, stressing that credible elections depend on robust legal frameworks and genuine internal democracy within political parties.
While admitting that some lawyers might not welcome a reduction in election-related litigation, Amupitan said the reforms are necessary to restore public trust.
“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections. Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” he insisted.
Addressing the audience of law teachers, students, and jurists at the conference themed “Law, National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalised World,” Amupitan urged the academic community to promote the use of law as a tool for reform and justice rather than self-interest.
“As law teachers, we must lead by example, building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he said.
In his remarks, NALT President and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Prof. John Akintayo, commended Amupitan’s reform agenda, noting that law remains the foundation of good governance and sustainable development.
“A nation’s progress depends on how its laws anticipate, adapt to, and shape change,” Akintayo stated.
Also speaking, the Conference Chairman and Dean of Law at the University of Abuja, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, said the 2025 edition of NALT’s annual conference would focus on pressing issues such as food security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and legal reforms,the key areas where law and governance must evolve to meet global realities.
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