Resignation Calls Against INEC Chair Premature, Threaten Stability – Oluwafemi

Resignation Calls Against INEC Chair Premature, Threaten Stability – Oluwafemi

A public analyst and development consultant, Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, has cautioned against growing calls for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, warning that such demands could undermine democratic stability if not properly handled.

In a statement he personally signed, Oluwafemi urged restraint and adherence to due process, stressing that while accountability is vital in any democracy, the approach to it must be guided by law rather than public pressure.

“I am compelled, as a concerned citizen and a professional engaged in governance advisory and institutional systems, to address the growing calls for the resignation of the Chairman of INEC,” he said.

“While accountability remains central to any functioning democracy, the manner, tone, and timing of these demands raise serious questions about intent and consequence.”

Oluwafemi said it was necessary to determine whether the calls were based on verifiable institutional breaches or driven by political considerations.

He expressed concern over positions taken by groups such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.

“When institutions begin to respond to pressure instead of process, democracy itself becomes negotiable,” he stated.

According to him, Nigeria’s constitutional provisions clearly outline the procedure for removing the INEC chairman, noting that it is not a matter to be decided through public agitation or media campaigns.

“The removal of the INEC Chairman is not a matter for public sentiment or media campaigns, but one strictly governed by law,” he said, urging that all allegations be subjected to judicial scrutiny.

“At this stage, restraint is not only advisable but also essential. In every serious democracy, accusation must travel through the courts, not through microphones.”

Oluwafemi also raised alarm over what he described as increasing reckless public commentary on sensitive national issues, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could heighten political tension.

“Public commentary on matters of national importance must be measured, responsible, and evidence-based. The consequences of careless rhetoric are neither theoretical nor distant,” he said.

He pointed to recent electoral cycles in the country, which recorded over 200 incidents of election-related violence, attributing part of the tension to premature delegitimisation of institutions.

“Words, when recklessly deployed in a fragile political climate, can become triggers rather than expressions,” he cautioned.

The analyst urged political actors, civil society groups, and media commentators to exercise responsibility in their engagements, noting that public platforms should be used to strengthen, not weaken, democratic institutions.

“Freedom of expression must never become a licence for institutional erosion,” he added.

He clarified that his position was not in defence of any individual, but rather a call to uphold constitutional order and democratic processes.

“This is not a defence of any individual. It is a defence of process, order, and democratic stability. Where there is credible evidence of wrongdoing, it must be tested through lawful and constitutional channels,” he said.

Oluwafemi maintained that until due process is followed, calls for the resignation of the INEC chairman remain premature and potentially destabilising.

“A nation does not strengthen its democracy by removing officials through pressure, but by upholding the systems designed to hold them accountable,” he concluded.