By Nnasom David

Civil society organisations under the aegis of Humanities Welfare and Social Development Initiatives have urged Nigerians to support the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The group cautioned against what it described as coordinated attempts by political actors and purveyors of misinformation to derail ongoing electoral reforms through blackmail and unfounded criticism.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the National Convener, Felix Nnalue Attah, said calls for the resignation of the INEC chairman were misguided and could threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.

“At this critical moment in our democratic journey, it is imperative to prioritise national interest, uphold truth, and support credible leadership committed to fairness, justice, and electoral excellence,” Attah said.

“We urge Nigerians to remain steadfast in supporting the INEC chairman and to resist distractions from political actors whose intent is to undermine progress through misinformation and baseless allegations,” he added.

The group also passed a vote of confidence in Amupitan’s leadership, commending his reform-driven policies aimed at strengthening electoral integrity, institutional transparency and public trust.

Attah noted that the chairman’s adherence to the rule of law, particularly in complying with court rulings on sensitive electoral matters, demonstrated his commitment to constitutional governance.

He added that Amupitan’s legal and academic background, including his tenure at the University of Jos and his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, positioned him to effectively lead the electoral body through complex challenges.

The organisations further urged the INEC boss to remain focused and undeterred in his pursuit of free, fair and credible elections in 2027, stressing that Nigerians deserved a transparent and accountable electoral process.