INEC Chairman Denies Plans for One-Party State in Nigeria

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stated during an interview that he is not part of any plans to convert Nigeria into a one-party state.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria is constitutionally a multi-party state, referencing the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections where ten political parties contested. Amupitan highlighted the challenges faced in leadership and democracy, urging that these issues must be addressed to prevent future problems.

He noted that the court had previously ruled on matters concerning political parties, including a warning to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) regarding their congress. Amupitan cautioned political parties against disregarding court orders, referencing the 2019 Zamfara case where a party lost its electoral victory due to non-compliance with judicial directives.

He emphasized that INEC would not conduct elections without adhering to court rulings, as failure to do so could lead to invalidated elections.