You have failed Nigerians even before election –Uzodike tells INEC chairman

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By Madu Obi

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Joemartins Uzodike has said that the best option for the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is to honourably resign from his position, claiming that he has already failed Nigerians even before the election.

Reacting to INEC’s withdrawal of recognition of the Sen. David Mark-led leadership of ADC, Uzodike, a lawyer, described the pronouncements of Amupitan on the matter as disgraceful and mischievous

According to him, the interpretation of a court order by INEC under the chairmanship of Amupitan, who is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), showed the Commission's bias, as he relied on an order submitted to INEC by an individual, thereby displaying deliberate ignorance of the law and pretending not to know what status quo antebellum meant, or where it should be applied.

Uzodike said the action of the INEC chairman had brought serious embarrassment to the legal system following his reliance on a court order to create a leadership void in an opposition political party.

He also frowned at a situation where Amupitan is interpreting an individual as a faction, arguing that Nafiu Bala neither has a secretary, nor leads any executive committee

“I have been around in this country since independence and I have been actively part of many elections in Nigeria, I make bold to say that an electoral umpire has never descended so brazenly and carelessly into the arena as we have now.

The chairman is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. How can he not interpret the meaning of status quo antebellum, which means go back to where you were before you came to court.

At what point was ADC before Nafiu Bala went to court and who was the chairman at that time ?

The court simply said whosoever was there should continue before the matter is determined, but Amupitan’s INEC is saying ADC does not exist.

The INEC chairman has failed the law; he has shown he is not capable of presiding over our electoral affairs without bias. He should therefore resign,” Uzodike said.

He said Amupitan should have been concerned about saving and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, rather than serving the interest of a few who wished to destroy it, adding that his TV interview also showed he was acting under intense pressure.

“From his demeanor on TV interview, it is clear that the INEC chairman is not a man of himself. For someone who has risen to the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor of a university, a professor and SAN, he should be a man of honour,” he added.