Kogi Group Backs INEC Chairman Amupitan, Calls for Restraint in Election Commentary
The Okun Development Association (ODA), the umbrella socio-cultural organisation representing the Yoruba people in Kogi State, has publicly affirmed its confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the group called for national restraint in public commentary relating to internal party disputes ahead of the 2027 elections, emphasizing the need for calm and institutional space for Amupitan to serve with neutrality and courage.
Statement from ODA Leadership
Ambassador Akenson Rotimi, President-General of ODA, spoke on behalf of Okun sons and daughters worldwide, extending appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for Amupitan's appointment. Rotimi described the appointment as "a clear endorsement of competence and character, and as a call to national service, anchored on merit." He further noted that the confidence placed in Prof. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is an honour to Okunland and Kogi State, urging Nigerians to support his leadership for fair electoral outcomes.
Youth and Civil Society Protests in Support of Amupitan
Meanwhile, in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Council of Kogi State, hundreds of youths and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) staged a protest against what they described as a politically-motivated attempt to undermine the INEC leadership. The demonstrators, drawn from various youth and civil society groups, marched through major streets of the community, voicing strong support for the independence of the electoral body and expressing unwavering confidence in Amupitan.
The protest featured a large procession with participants carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as "Enemies of Fairness, Beware!" and "Fair Elections Start with Amupitan." Protesters insisted that recent claims and rumours circulating on social media were part of a broader agenda to discredit the electoral system. The event included youths on motorcycles and on foot, chanting solidarity songs and calling for the protection of democratic institutions.
Voices from the Protest
During the demonstration, a youth leader identified as Segun vowed that the group would resist any attempt to "blackmail" or weaken the electoral body. The protest emerged as a fallout from ongoing national debates over the appointment of new INEC National Commissioners, with some civil society organisations and opposition voices raising concerns about the alleged political affiliations of certain nominees. This highlights the heightened tensions and public engagement surrounding electoral integrity as Nigeria approaches the 2027 polls.
