By Adewole Kehinde
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan
After listening to Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the University of Abuja on Monday, I was deeply convinced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made the right choice in appointing him as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Prof. Amupitan is indeed a round peg in a round hole, a man with the intellect, integrity, and courage required to lead Nigeria’s electoral body at a defining moment in our democratic history.
His vow to end the growing trend of elections being decided in courtrooms rather than at polling units resonates profoundly with every Nigerian who believes in the sanctity of the ballot.
I share completely in his concern over the alarming number of pre-election and post-election litigations that have burdened our democratic process. This disturbing pattern, as Prof. Amupitan rightly noted, is unhealthy for the growth and stability of Nigeria’s democracy.
Genuine democratic contests should be decided by the people, not through endless court disputes. The will of the electorate must be the ultimate determinant of who governs, not the interpretation of conflicting affidavits and procedural technicalities in courtrooms. Prof. Amupitan’s vision, to return electoral victory to the polling unit and not the courtroom, is both noble and necessary if we are to build public confidence in our democracy.
However, as the INEC Chairman himself emphasised, sustainable reform must begin from within the political parties. Most pre-election cases arise from internal party conflicts, disregard for party constitutions, and a failure to uphold internal democracy. Until political parties learn to respect their own rules and conduct transparent primaries, the avalanche of litigation will continue to undermine the credibility of our elections.
I also concur with Prof. Amupitan’s broader philosophy that the law must serve as an instrument of order and fairness. This is the only way Nigeria can build an electoral culture rooted in justice and transparency.
To make this vision a reality, the National Assembly must play its part by strengthening existing electoral laws to promote transparency, internal party discipline, and accountability. Legislative reforms should simplify the electoral framework, close existing loopholes, and ensure that institutions like INEC can function with greater autonomy and efficiency. Doing so will make the job of the INEC Chairman easier and help restore public faith in the system.
Of course, not everyone will be pleased with the coming reforms. Those who benefit from electoral manipulation and legal shortcuts will resist change. But as Prof. Amupitan’s words remind us, restoring integrity to elections is far more important than preserving anyone’s convenience.
Nigeria’s democracy stands at a crossroads. To move forward, political parties, candidates, and citizens must rally around Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) and support his efforts to rebuild an electoral process that reflects the true will of the people. Only then can we ensure that future elections are decided where they truly matter—at the polling unit, by the voters.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
