The North Central Youth Leaders Alliance, NCYLA, has strongly condemned recent calls by some Islamic associations for the removal of Professor Joash Amupitan as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement on Saturday by the convener, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, NCYLA described the call as a blatant attempt to undermine the autonomy of the electoral body and destabilize the nation’s electoral process.
The youth leaders said Professor Amupitan’s leadership has been marked by a commitment to transparency, fairness, and inclusivity with the recently concluded Anambra gubernatorial election.
“We see no justification for any entity to call for his removal on the basis of his background as a Christian or as a North Central man.
“As youth leaders from North Central and Nigeria, we are committed to defending the independence of INEC and ensuring that the commission is allowed to function without fear or favor.
“It would be a grave mistake if after his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whom in his wisdom and a Muslim nominated a man with capacity and pedigree is being maligned not for being observed to be a politician but the malicious call based on his faith, a call we shall defend with our last blood! While we commend the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the progress made so far in reforming Nigeria Nation,” the group said.
NCYLA urged all stakeholders, including politicians, civil society organizations, and the general public, to respect the independence of INEC and allow Professor Amupitan to continue his mandate without undue interference.
“Any grievances or concerns about the commission’s performance should be addressed through proper channels, not through public outcry or threats, and religion differences.
“We, the youth leaders of North Central extract, stand firmly behind Professor Amupitan and will mobilize all necessary resources to defend his position.
“We will not tolerate any attempts to compromise the integrity of our electoral process or undermine the progress made towards strengthening our democracy.
“We demand that those behind this malicious campaign retract their statements and apologize to Professor Amupitan and the people of Nigeria. We will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to protect the interests of our region and the nation.”
