Kogi Youths Rise in Protest, Allege Political Persecution Against Amupitan

Hundreds of youths in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Monday took to the streets in protest, alleging a coordinated political move to undermine the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The protesters, drawn from various youth and civil society groups, marched across major parts of the community, declaring support for the electoral body’s independence and solidarity with Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the chairman of the commission.

Wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Enemies of Fairness, Beware!” and “Fair Elections Start with Amupitan,” the demonstrators dismissed circulating allegations against the chairman as a deliberate attempt to discredit both his person and the electoral system.

The protest, marked by a convoy of motorcycles and a large turnout of participants on foot, drew widespread attention as chants echoed across the town, with calls for the protection of democratic institutions.

Addressing the crowd, a youth leader identified as Segun warned against what he described as attempts to blackmail or destabilise INEC.

“We are here to send a clear message: the sanctity of INEC must be protected. Prof. Amupitan is a man of integrity and a proud son of this land. Any attempt to unjustly tarnish his image is a direct attack on democracy,” he said.

The development comes amid heightened national debate over the appointment of the chairman , with some stakeholders questioning the neutrality of certain political stance.

However, the Kogi youths rejected the claims as “sponsored propaganda,” insisting that Amupitan’s legal pedigree and track record position him to strengthen electoral credibility and transparency.

Meanwhile, INEC has pushed back against calls for the removal of its chairman, describing such demands as unconstitutional and a threat to its independence.

In a statement earlier released by its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the commission emphasised that its leadership structure is firmly guided by constitutional provisions, particularly Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The commission maintained that its decisions, including compliance with court rulings and oversight of party activities, are anchored on the rule of law and aimed at preserving Nigeria’s democratic framework.

INEC also dismissed allegations of bias, noting its continued recognition of multiple political parties and its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.

On the planned voter revalidation exercise, the commission described it as a routine process to sanitise the voter register and enhance the integrity of electoral data.

The protest comes as attention intensifies ahead of off-cycle elections in Ekiti State and Osun State, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments within the electoral body.