The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said that elections in Nigeria must be won at the polling units and not in the courts.
Amupitan made the statement on Monday at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held at the University of Abuja.
Speaking on the need to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process, the new INEC boss vowed to curb the rising tide of pre-election litigations that have long plagued the system.
“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections. Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” Amupitan declared.
He called on political parties to adhere strictly to their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align their activities with the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that this would drastically reduce the number of pre-election cases.
“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 emphasized his commitment to ensuring that the law serves as an “instrument of change, not chaos,” expressing optimism that a fair and transparent electoral process would foster unity and trust in the democratic system.
“My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when our democracy can be said to have matured,” he added.
The INEC Chairman also urged the National Assembly to enact stronger legislation to reinforce electoral laws and promote transparency, noting that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends on reforms that prioritize fairness and accountability.