Academic and Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, has expressed doubt regarding the ability of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, to conduct a free and fair election, insisting that he is “partisan”.
Ibrahim, who is the Chairman of the Premium Times Editorial Board, made this known on Monday while appearing as a guest on the Arise Television programme, ‘Prime Time’.
Speaking during the interview, the professor insisted there is sufficient evidence to show that the new INEC Chairman has been working for the incumbent government during his short time in office.
He also addressed an alleged post on X (formerly Twitter), where Amupitan reportedly shared a partisan opinion, stating it confirms the electoral body’s boss is in no way neutral.
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He concluded that Amupitan’s recent intervention in the affairs of the main opposition party—without a legal basis—further lends credence to why he cannot be trusted with the electoral process.
Summarising his points during the broadcast, Ibrahim said: “This indicates we have a partisan person who has come to do the job of his master. He held partisan opinions during the last election and displayed that partisanship openly on X.
“I think the Chairman of INEC is relatively new. He has only just been appointed, but in a very short time, we have seen numerous instances of partisanship.
“His intervention in terms of targeting the main opposition party, without a legal basis that most senior lawyers in this country find acceptable, justifies that view.”