By Sarafina Christopher
Leaders of civil society and youth organisations have declared support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
Blessing Akinlosotu, the Executive Director of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), spoke on Thursday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a solidarity engagement.
He urged political parties to resolve their internal disputes without distracting the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Akinlosotu, NCSCN is identifying with INEC because the persistent protests at its premises are unnecessary distractions.
“These are internal political issues that we expect to be resolved internally.
“We have noticed leaders from different factions of political parties staging day-in, day-out protests at INEC’s office.
“We see this as a distraction. Time is counting down; INEC has enormous work to do and needs the space to do it; disrupting its activities daily is not healthy for the 2027 election,” he said.
Also speaking, Babangida Isah, the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, said Nigerian youths would not allow INEC to be dragged into partisan politics.
“We are here to stand as the voice of the voiceless: the majority of the youth constituency.
“Political matters should be separated from INEC’s activities; INEC is an independent body; if you have an internal crisis, sort it out and leave INEC alone.
“Since his appointment, the INEC chairman has been doing wonderfully well, working to strengthen our democracy,” he said.
Isah commended President Bola Tinubu for “putting the right peg in the right hole” by appointing a chairman who, as a lawyer, understands the rule of law.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Jethro Annum, described INEC as a regulatory umpire whose mandate was to oversee elections, not mediate party crises.
“INEC is an umpire in the electoral process of Nigeria, and the process has already started.
“If parties have internal issues, they should resolve them internally rather than overflogging the polity and creating a false impression.
“They should resolve their internal crisis rather than mobilising young people who are trying to better their lives for an issue that is not an issue,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to focus on their livelihoods instead of being drawn into political distractions.
The leaders called on politicians to respect judicial pronouncements and allow INEC to concentrate on preparations for the 2027 elections.(NAN)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
