INEC chairman must serve Nigerians, not politicians – ADC warns Amupitan

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), to remain steadfast in his commitment to the Nigerian people and take urgent steps to rebuild trust in the nation’s electoral process.

In a statement issued in Abuja, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party expects Prof. Amupitan to seize this moment to leave a legacy of integrity and credibility.

“He must understand that his loyalty is with the Nigerian people, not the government,” Abdullahi stated.

“We’re prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt because of his track record, but this is his moment — he can choose to build a legacy his children will be proud of or risk ending his career in disgrace.”

Meanwhile, Abdullahi also reacted to the troubling figures in the latest World Bank report, which revealed that 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line — a sharp rise from 81 million in 2019.

He criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu for not prioritizing the welfare of ordinary citizens, particularly in the face of soaring food inflation.

“Right now, about 70% of Nigerians are spending nearly all their income on food, leaving little to nothing for other basic needs,” Abdullahi said.

He also raised concerns about the use of Nigeria’s domestic poverty benchmark — currently around ₦137,000 monthly (roughly $90) — arguing that it significantly underrepresents the true extent of poverty when compared with global standards.

“When a poverty line is set too low, it doesn’t protect the poor — it hides them,” he warned. “It creates a false sense of progress, while the most vulnerable remain invisible to policies meant to help them.”

According to Abdullahi, what Nigeria urgently needs is a people-first economic strategy focused on inclusive growth.

He urged the federal government to design policies that directly address food security, unemployment, and social protection for the most vulnerable.

“Only with deliberate, compassionate economic planning can we begin to pull the 139 million Nigerians living in poverty back into the fold of opportunity and dignity,” he concluded.