People of Ayetoro Gbede community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state have asked those calling for the resignation of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to desist and allow him to do his job.
Youths numbering over 1,000 took to the street of the community on Monday for a Solidarity Rally where they affirmed their support for the INEC Boss, who they described as a man of integrity.
The Youths were carrying placards with various inscription; “Stop Campaign of Calumny Against Our Son,” “Thank you Mr. President for the Choice of Professor Joash Amupitan,” “Stop Trying to Pull him Down,” among others.
The National President of Ayetoro Gbede Development Association (AGDA), Mr. Samuel Olorunmaiye described Prof. Amupitan as a man of integrity, who had served the nation in different capacities.
“Firstly, he served as Head of Department, Public Law, University of Jos, he later served as the longest serving Dean of Faculty of law in the same University and after that, he was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, of the University.
“Prof. Amupitan is a man of value and we value him. I want to tell Nigerians to allow him to do his job and by the grace of God, we know that he is going to succeed,” he said.
He urged him to remain focused and deliver a free, fair and transparent election come 2027.
According to him, the allegations of partisanship levelled against the INEC chairman is baseless and untrue, saying as a legal luminary, he understands the sanity of his office.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of the Community, Comrade Elijah Babatunde said come rain come shine, the Ayetoro Gbede Community both home and diaspora are solidly behind him.
Comrade Babatunde urged him not to be distracted by non state actors but remain focused and carryout his official duty in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Electoral Act.
The Youth Leader maintained that calls for the resignation of Prof. Amupitan is not the first time the some Nigerians will be calling for the sack or resignation of the head of the electoral umpire.
According to him, linking the INEC Chairman to a political party is unjust and politically motivated to distract him from performing his official assignment.
“The Prof. Joash Amupitan that we know is a man of integrity and will never compromise standard. He is not a politician, he is a neutral person who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to head the commission.”
