By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja
Socio-cultural groups operating under the aegis of Ethnic Youth Leaders across the country have dismissed as politically motivated the call for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, by former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.
The youth leaders were reacting to recent remarks credited to Olawepo-Hashim in which he rejected the newly adjusted timetable for the 2027 general election and demanded the resignation of the INEC Chairman, alleging an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
In a joint statement issued and signed by Mirabel Ashara, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ethnic Youth Leaders, the groups described the demand for Professor Amupitan’s resignation as baseless, premature, and lacking constitutional merit.
According to them, the adjustment of an election timetable falls squarely within the statutory responsibilities of INEC as empowered by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
They noted that administrative decisions taken within the ambit of the law should not be politicised or misconstrued as anti-democratic actions.
“The call for the resignation of Professor Joash Amupitan over an adjusted election timetable is not only nonsensical but also an attempt to heat up the polity unnecessarily,” the statement read.
The group urged political actors to channel grievances through lawful and institutional mechanisms rather than resorting to public agitation capable of eroding public confidence in democratic institutions.
They further called on Nigerians to remain calm and trust INEC’s capacity to conduct credible, free, and fair elections in 2027, emphasising that electoral reforms and administrative adjustments are part of efforts to strengthen—not weaken—the nation’s democratic process.
Reaffirming their confidence in Professor Amupitan’s leadership, the youth leaders described him as a seasoned legal scholar and administrator committed to upholding transparency, neutrality, and the rule of law.
They advised all political stakeholders to prioritise national stability and democratic consolidation over personal or partisan interests.
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