The Arewa Youth Forum, the umbrella body of youth organisations across the 19 Northern States and FCT, has expressed full support for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, and called on the opposition, civil society, and all Nigerians with political interests to put partisanship aside and rally behind the commission as it prepares for the 2027 electoral cycle.
In a statement signed by its National President, Ahmed Mohammed Zagi, made available on Tuesday July 21, 2026, AYF called on opposition to stop henceforth, campaign of calumny against INEC.
According to the statement, since his swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof. Amupitan has demonstrated clear commitment to defending the Constitution and upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“In his first months in office, the Chairman led INEC to the successful conduct of the Anambra State Governorship Election, which he described as proof that “the sanctity of the ballot is, and will always be, our highest priority.
“His leadership has also set the tone for upcoming critical polls, including the FCT Area Council election in February 2026 and the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections, which he described as a “litmus test and a mirror for the 2027 general elections,” AYF said.
The forum noted with commendation, the Chairman’s proactive steps to strengthen INEC’s operations:
“The configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for optimal performance.
“Systematic recruitment of ad-hoc staff via the INECPRES portal.
“Commitment to deliver PVCs across all 177 Registration Areas to ensure no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
“A public pledge to build “an electoral body that is trusted by all Nigerians and a nation where every eligible voter is empowered and every vote counts,” it said.
AYF recalled that Prof. Amupitan, a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and SAN since 2014, was unanimously approved by the National Council of State and confirmed by the Senate on the basis of capacity, integrity and being apolitical. President Tinubu charged him to “protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and strengthen the institutional capacity”, a charge the Chairman has reaffirmed.
“The Arewa Youth Forum believes that credible elections cannot be achieved by INEC alone. As the Chairman himself stated, “No matter how high we set the bar for success, we will still need the cooperation of all stakeholders”.
The forum therefore, called on the opposition and political actors to shelve destructive criticisms driven by political lenses and engage constructively with INEC, adding that democracy thrives on contestation, not sabotage.
“Security agencies, CSOs, media and youth to support INEC’s efforts to curb misinformation and ensure peaceful, transparent elections.
“The Nigerian people to have renewed faith in the electoral process as we move toward 2027,” AYF declared.
The forum also acknowledged the decade of service by former Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who laid the foundation for digital reforms. We are confident that Prof. Amupitan will build on that foundation.
“Nigeria’s democracy has recorded notable progress in 25 years. To sustain it, we must protect electoral integrity at every stage — from registration to result collation. The Arewa Youth Forum stands firmly with INEC and Prof. Amupitan. We urge all Nigerians, especially the youth of Northern Nigeria, to support the Commission in delivering free, fair, credible and inclusive elections,” the statement concluded.
