Elections: Era of endless court battles over, says INEC chairman

Elections: Era of endless court battles over, says INEC chairman

ABUJA — The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has pledged to confront the growing trend of excessive pre-election litigations, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.

Speaking at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held at the University of Abuja, Amupitan said his administration would prioritise electoral integrity by curbing the courtroom battles that often precede elections.

The INEC boss, who was sworn in last week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lamented the volume of legal disputes that trailed the build-up to the 2023 general elections, noting that over 1,000 pre-election cases were filed.

“That is not democracy. That is litigation by other means,” Amupitan said.

He emphasised that the solution lies in strict adherence to legal frameworks, beginning with political parties. “If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act and align with the Nigerian constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” he said.

Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and renowned academic, said his goal is to make the law an instrument of reform rather than chaos. “My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when we can truly say our democracy has matured,” he added.

READ ALSO:

• Yahaya Bello under fire for using Kogi letterhead in personal communication to army chief
• INEC boss Amupitan picks former PUNCH Editor Dayo Oketola as chief press secretary
• A true talent – Oliseh praises Alex Iwobi being first Nigerian player to reach 300 EPL appearances

He called on the National Assembly to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws, stressing that credible elections depend on robust legal structures and internal party democracy.

While acknowledging that fewer election-related cases might not favour some legal practitioners, Amupitan maintained that restoring public confidence in the electoral system must take precedence.

“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections. Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” he said.

Addressing 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 law as a tool for justice and reform.

“As law teachers, we must lead by example, building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he said.

Earlier, NALT President and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Prof. John Akintayo, commended Amupitan’s vision, describing law as the backbone of governance and sustainable development.

“A nation’s progress depends on how its laws anticipate, adapt to and shape change,” Akintayo said.

Conference Chairman and Dean of Law, University of Abuja, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, said this year’s gathering would focus on pressing issues such as food security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and legal reforms, noting that law must evolve to meet contemporary governance challenges.

Elections: Era of endless court battles over, says INEC chairman