Northern youths say attacks on INE’C chair are politically motivated.

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: Northern youths have defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, describing the attacks on the Commission as politically motivated. They pledged to oppose any efforts to undermine INEC’s independence ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), which claims a membership of two to three million young people across northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, issued the rebuke during a courtesy visit to the Commission on Thursday.

Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, Chairman of the AYF Board of Trustees, said the forum had toured the North and found that public confidence in the Commission was being deliberately eroded by orchestrated misinformation rather than genuine operational failures.

“An independent electoral body must be judged on facts and evidence, not propaganda. AYF strongly rejects the politicisation of INEC, especially at this critical time in our national history,” Alhaji Gujungu said.

The Forum stated that the attacks on Prof. Amupitan and the Commission were unfair and dangerous, coming at a time when INEC had shown measurable improvements in election conduct, including timely deployment of materials, stricter adherence to electoral guidelines, and expanded use of technology to curb fraud.

“We stand before you today to commend the hard work of your leadership and the successes recorded in the recent elections held across the country,” the Chairman said. “The improvement in logistics, timely deployment of materials, and adherence to election guidelines despite enormous challenges are commendable.”

Alhaji Gujungu specifically praised INEC’s deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as a decisive step in eliminating electoral fraud and ensuring that results authentically reflect the will of Nigerian voters. He described the Commission’s technology‑driven approach as one of the most significant milestones in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The Forum pledged to mobilise its membership to respect electoral laws, reject fake news, report criminal elements, and act as active guardians of the voting process in the build‑up to 2027.

Responding, Prof. Amupitan thanked the Forum for what he called an exceptional show of objectivity, noting that positive assessments of the Commission’s work had become rare in the current media climate. He said the solidarity expressed by the AYF would strengthen the Commission’s resolve as it intensified preparations for the 2027 polls.

The INEC Chairman confirmed that Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 15, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be held on February 6, 2027. He called on all Nigerians to rally behind the Commission in delivering elections that would serve as a democratic model for Africa.

He said, “Nigeria has the largest democracy in Africa. For it to be well with Africa, Nigeria must get it right. And we are committed and determined to ensure that we face that election head on.”

Amupitan cited the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election as evidence of the Commission’s improving standards, noting that observers recorded the early arrival of INEC officials at polling units, a calm and secure atmosphere, and seamless deployment of election materials—a template he said the Commission would build upon going forward.

The forum also proposed two formal areas of collaboration with INEC: a grassroots voter education campaign across northern Nigeria targeting voter mobilisation, anti‑vote‑buying messaging, and technology literacy; and a post‑election feedback mechanism through which AYF field coordinators would gather and submit polling‑unit‑level data on logistics, staff conduct and technology performance after each election.

Amupitan welcomed both proposals and directed the Director of Voter Education and Publicity to immediately establish a formal liaison with the Forum to strengthen the Commission’s grassroots reach across the North.