INEC Under Watch: Emeka Kalu Challenges Prof. Amupitan to Prove His Integrity Amid Tribal Concerns

Business mogul and politician, Chief Emeka C. Kalu, has expressed deep concern over the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the decision could cast shadows on the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process.

Chief Kalu, who spoke while reacting to the announcement, said that although Amupitan hails from Iye-toro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, which is in the North-Central zone, he comes from the Yoruba-speaking part of the state, just like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who hails from the South-West.

He stressed that while geographical zoning might appear to have been respected, the ethnic similarity between the President and the INEC nominee could spark widespread suspicion about the independence and neutrality of the electoral body - especially ahead of future elections.

"In matters of national importance, perception is everything," Kalu noted. "Even if the decision is right, if it raises red flags, it will still be seen as wrong. Nigerians are already asking questions about why the President would nominate another Yoruba-speaking man to head INEC at a time when confidence in the commission is fragile."

The PDP stalwart further cautioned that Professor Amupitan must prove his sincerity and nonpartisanship through his actions, emphasizing that Nigerians will not hesitate to call him out if he acts against the principles of democracy.

"The new INEC Chairman must operate with the highest level of transparency and fairness. Nigerians are watching. The survival of our democracy depends on the impartiality of institutions like INEC," Chief Kalu warned.

Kalu also urged political leaders at all levels to always make appointments that promote unity and trust among Nigeria's diverse ethnic groups rather than decisions that may polarize the nation or feed into narratives of ethnic favoritism.

He concluded by advising Prof. Amupitan to see his appointment as a call to service, not an opportunity for political alignment, insisting that "INEC must remain the conscience of Nigeria's democracy, not its casualty."