Arewa Think Tank cautions opposition over calls to sack INEC chair
The Arewa Think Tank has faulted calls for the removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, describing the demand as unjustified and politically
- …backs Jang on Jos killings
- By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
The Arewa Think Tank has faulted calls for the removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, describing the demand as unjustified and politically motivated.
The group urged opposition actors to exercise restraint, warning that actions capable of undermining democratic institutions could imperil the nation’s stability.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, stressed that the quest for political power must not come at the expense of democratic order.
He noted that INEC had already dismissed the calls for Amupitan’s resignation, maintaining that such demands lack constitutional backing.
According to the group, the tenure and removal of the INEC chairman are clearly spelt out under Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution and cannot be subjected to partisan pressure.
The controversy, it recalled, followed calls by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including its National Chairman, David Mark, who accused the electoral body of bias and demanded a leadership overhaul.
The demand came on the heels of INEC’s decision to derecognise segments of the party’s leadership amid an ongoing internal crisis.
The development also coincided with a high-level opposition meeting in Abuja attended by prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi.
Backing the electoral umpire, the Arewa Think Tank reiterated that attempts to forcefully remove the commission’s leadership outside constitutional provisions pose a grave threat to democratic governance.
Yakubu emphasized that institutions like INEC must remain independent and shielded from undue political interference.
He added that the commission had clarified concerns surrounding the ongoing nationwide voter revalidation exercise, describing it as a routine administrative process aimed at enhancing the credibility of the voter register, rather than targeting any political group.
The group urged political stakeholders to place national interest above partisan considerations and engage constructively in strengthening democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, the think tank has also thrown its weight behind concerns raised by former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang over the recent killings in Jos and other parts of the country.
It warned of alleged plots to destabilise Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yakubu, reacting to Jang’s condemnation of the attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area, which claimed at least 28 lives on Palm Sunday, said there were indications of attempts to derail the electoral process.
“The statement by Jonah Jang on the Jos killings and similar incidents across the country aligns with our position that certain elements, possibly in collaboration with foreign interests, are bent on undermining the 2027 elections,” he said.
He, however, cautioned Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used for destabilising activities.
Yakubu also called on opposition parties to act responsibly, noting that national survival must take precedence over political ambition.
“If there is no Nigeria, which country would they govern?” he queried.
In a statement by his media aide, Clinton Garuba, Jang described the attackers as “agents of darkness” determined to plunge the state into fear and regression.
“For how long shall these killings continue?” Jang asked, lamenting that the victims were not mere statistics but individuals with hopes and aspirations cut short.
He condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of the injured, while urging residents to remain united and resist fear.
Jang also called for more proactive measures from security agencies, stressing the need for improved intelligence gathering and a shift from reactive to preventive strategies.
The former governor reiterated his longstanding advocacy for state policing, noting that the idea, once criticized during his tenure, has become increasingly relevant amid worsening insecurity.
