The call by opposition leaders for the resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Joash Amupitan, has been described as a political maneuver by political analyst Omotayo Yusuf. In an interview with Legit.ng, Yusuf stated that the opposition is using this tactic to build their argument in the court of public opinion and the court of law, as they see no clear path to victory in the 2027 elections.
Historical Parallels with PDP's 2015 Strategy
Yusuf recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) employed a similar strategy when it lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections. He noted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is now starting this game even earlier, calling it a classic case of pre-election undermining.
He emphasized that if Amupitan is removed and a new chairman is appointed, the opposition will likely continue to denigrate the new chairman and express no confidence in him. This approach, he explained, is akin to giving a dog a bad name to hang it. The opposition party, lacking a clear pathway to victory in 2027, seeks to argue in court and public opinion that they lost because the umpire was unfair.
Yusuf highlighted that in 2015, INEC chairman Attahiru Jega faced similar diatribes from the PDP, which accused him of corruption and compromise before the presidential results were announced. The ADC has started this maligning even before the elections, reflecting a strategy to reject both the institution and its head.
Court Restrains INEC on ADC Congresses
In related news, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered INEC not to recognize or participate in any congress organized by the controversial leadership of the ADC. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the ruling to bar David Mark and other ADC leaders from party activities amid a leadership crisis. This development has sparked discussions as the 2027 general elections approach.
Yusuf concluded that regardless of who is appointed as INEC chairman, the opposition has already decided to reject the electoral body and its head, using this as a basis for future legal and public arguments.
