By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Residents of Ayetoro Gbede Community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State have called on those demanding the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to stop distracting him and allow him to concentrate on his duties.
The call was made during a solidarity rally held in the community, where over 1,000 sons and daughters of Ayetoro Gbede, mainly youths, marched through major streets to express support for the INEC Chairman, whom they described as a man of integrity.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Campaign of Calumny Against Our Son,” “Thank You Mr. President for the Choice of Professor Joash Amupitan,” and “Stop Trying to Pull Him Down.”
Speaking during the rally, the National President of Ayetoro Gbede Development Association (AGDA), Mr. Samuel Olorunmaiye, described Prof. Amupitan as a man who has served the nation diligently in various capacities.
According to him, Prof. Amupitan served as Head of Department, Public Law, University of Jos, later became the longest-serving Dean of the Faculty of Law in the institution, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration).
He said the community has confidence in his ability to succeed and urged Nigerians to allow him to discharge his responsibilities without interference.
Olorunmaiye also encouraged the INEC Chairman to remain focused and ensure the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in 2027.
He dismissed allegations of partisanship against Prof. Amupitan as baseless, noting that as a legal luminary, he understands the demands and neutrality of his office.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of the community, Comrade Elijah Babatunde, said the people of Ayetoro Gbede, both at home and in the diaspora, remain solidly behind him.
He urged the INEC Chairman not to be distracted by what he described as non-state actors, but to remain committed to carrying out his constitutional responsibilities in line with the Electoral Act.
Babatunde noted that calls for the sack or resignation of heads of the electoral body were not new, adding that attempts to link Prof. Amupitan with any political party were politically motivated.
He maintained that Prof. Amupitan is a man of integrity who would not compromise standards, stressing that he is not a politician but a neutral administrator appointed to serve the nation.
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