THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to ensure the courts do not determine the ultimate winners and losers in Nigeria’s electoral process by curbing the culture of excessive pre and post-election litigations through the conduct of credible elections.
Amupitan, who assumed office about one week ago after being sworn in by President Bola Tinubu, said INEC cannot continue to operate in a system where over 1,000 pre-election cases were recorded ahead of the 2023 general elections, saying that is not democracy, but litigation by other means.
He stressed that courts cannot continue to decide election winners and losers, insisting such must be decided at polling units.
Speaking at the 56th yearly national conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held at the University of Abuja, on Monday, October 27, the INEC boss said one of his top priorities was to “end the courtroom warfare” that often begins long before ballots are cast.
While stating that the solution lies not in endless legal battles, but in strict adherence to the law, beginning with the political parties themselves, Amupitan added: “If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse.
“My goal is simple: To make the law an instrument of change, not 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.”
Amupitan pledged to work closely with the National Assembly to deliver a credible, fair and transparent electoral process for Nigeria, saying: “I will start waiting to participate in the National Assembly to be sure that we have a learning electoral process and laws that you and I and Nigerians should be proud of.
“There is little INEC can do by way of policy if the law does not support us. I will work closely with the legislature to ensure we have enduring electoral laws that all Nigerians can be proud of.”
He urged the National Assembly to strengthen the country’s electoral laws, as the credibility of elections depended on robust legal frameworks and political parties that practise genuine internal democracy.
He acknowledged that some lawyers might not welcome a reduction in election-related cases, but said such move was necessary to restore public confidence in the system, noting: “We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections. Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom.”
Speaking to participants on ‘Law, National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalised World,’ the senior lawyer challenged the academic community to see law as a tool for reform and justice, rather than opportunism.
“This is a momentous occasion, because this event has simply brought me before my mentors, my colleagues and mentees in the legal education community, and I’m not in doubt you will be ready to offer constructive advice when and where necessary.
“Law is not merely a set of rules, but the foundation upon which societies build progress. It guides ethical governance, fosters economic opportunities, and upholds citizens’ rights.
“As law teachers, we must lead by example, building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience.
“Look at me as your ambassador. I need your prayers,” he stated.
Earlier, NALT President and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Professor John Akintayo, commended Amupitan’s vision, saying law remained the backbone of good governance and sustainable development and “a nation’s progress depends on how its laws anticipate, adapt to and shape change.”
Akintayo said: “The rule of law must serve and build the foundation of market efficiency and the engineering of human dignity.
“As law teachers, we have the privilege and duty to ensure that our students, the next generation of jurists and policy makers, internalise this delicate balance,” adding that the law must move from being a “passive spectator” to an “active architect” of national progress.
He urged Law teachers to engage in scholarship that impacted society beyond academia, even as he noted that “electoral justice lies at the foundation of democratic legitimacy and sustainable development; a credible electoral system strengthens national cohesion and promotes public trust.”
The conference Chairman and Dean of Law, University of Abuja, Professor Uwakwe Abugu, said this year’s gathering would spotlight urgent themes, such as food security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and legal reforms.
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