The Ayetoro Gbede community in Ijumu Local Government Area has thrown its weight behind the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, urging critics to stop calls for his resignation and allow him to concentrate on his responsibilities.
In a show of solidarity, more than 1,000 indigenes—mostly youths—marched through the town, expressing confidence in the INEC chairman’s leadership. The protesters displayed placards with messages including “Stop Campaign of Calumny Against Our Son,” “Thank You, Mr. President, for the Choice of Professor Joash Amupitan,” and “Stop Trying to Pull Him Down.”
Speaking on behalf of the community, the National President of the Ayetoro Gbede Development Association (AGDA), Samuel Olorunmaiye, described Amupitan as a man of proven integrity who has served the country in several capacities. He highlighted his academic career at the University of Jos, where he held key positions including Head of the Public Law Department, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration).
Olorunmaiye called on Nigerians to give the INEC chairman the space to carry out his duties, expressing confidence that he would deliver credible elections in 2027. He dismissed allegations of partisanship as unfounded, noting that Amupitan’s legal background positions him to uphold the neutrality of his office.
Also speaking, the community’s Youth Leader, Elijah Babatunde, said indigenes at home and in the diaspora remain united in their support. He urged Amupitan not to be distracted by external pressures but to remain focused on his constitutional mandate.
Babatunde noted that calls for the resignation of electoral commission heads are not new in Nigeria, adding that attempts to link the INEC chairman to any political party are politically motivated.
He maintained that Prof. Joash Amupitan, appointed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a neutral figure committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
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