IREV: Ozekhome, Ubani Okorie, Others Charge Amupitan To Replicate Anambra Feat

November 13, 2025

written by Chibuike Chukwu 

Posted by: Prince Ahmed Hassan (TOHA)

•Praise Electoral Boss On Timely Release Of Results

Despite the challenges experienced during the just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State, key stakeholders in the country have hailed the Professor Joash Amupitan-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the timely transmission of polling booth results to the IREV, leading to the early announcement of the winner. Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

In their separate chats with our correspondent on the overall conduct of the poll that returned Governor Charles Soludo to office, they noted that given the short period of time Profesor Amupitan was in charge, he showed signs of good things to come ahead of subsequent polls.

Speaking while in a chat with our correspondent, Chief Mike Ozekhome, renowned jurist and constitutional lawyer, said it was credit to the INEC chairman that the election results were out in record time, challenging him to up the ante in the subsequent elections.

“It is a credit to him that he was able to master the process in such a short time and ensure that the results were out on time,” Ozekhome said.
“I give him the credit and will say that if I should judge him based on that, he did well.

“It also showed what we can achieve a lot if we have the will and decide to be sincere; it also shows the power of technology and what technology can do if it is used without human manipulation.

“It also showed that we can get it right if we decide to get it right. I honestly congratulate him for doing so much within the short time he had  and want him to know that all eyes will also be on him in the next elections,” he said.

Also speaking similarly, human rights lawyer and activist, Monday Ubani, hailed the process leading to the timely uploading of results on the IREV. He also noted that a lot would be expected of the INEC chairman and the umpire itself going forward.

“He came with structures already on ground but then, we could have blamed him if things had gone bad, so I think the election was a big test to him which he did his best,” Ubani said.

“The results were uploaded and announced on Sunday which is a big achievement considering how we have been doing it in the past.

Also speaking similarly, human rights lawyer and activist, Monday Ubani, hailed the process leading to the timely uploading of results on the IREV. He also noted that a lot would be expected of the INEC chairman and the umpire itself going forward.

“He came with structures already on ground but then, we could have blamed him if things had gone bad, so I think the election was a big test to him which he did his best,” Ubani said.

“The results were uploaded and announced on Sunday which is a big achievement considering how we have been doing it in the past.

“I think he tried and lived above board in this aspect but this is just one state, we should let him know that it is just Anam bra State. He has a higher task ahead of him in 2027 when he will conduct elections in all the states. He should maintain the same timelines and efficiency in releasing the results.

“The other issue we had in Anambra, I mean vote buying, is not his making and this is where we need to educate our politicians and Nigerians that election is not and should not be a do or die affair. People should be chosen based on votes.

On his own, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the founder and former chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), thumped up the new INEC chairman in the election, saying the Anambra Poll was a bit more credible than what used to be the norm.

“The election in Anambra State was a bit more credible than the one Mahmood conducted. Even with the number of years he stayed there.

“He is eager to make a difference. He should try and improve in the other two off-season elections. And finally, with the general election.

“The general election (in 2027) to me is a real litmus test, not these ones because he has to stretch out whatever knowledge and energy and wisdom he has to cover the entire federation, which is a very vast space.

“Generally, his performance even within the short time was better than what we saw from Mahmood who was there for eight years. Anybody denying him that is not being charitable.”

Speaking similarly, the coordinator of Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, admitted that given the amount of results that came in within a record time, the INEC chairman tried and should be commended.

“Honestly, I will give him the benefit of the doubt because the issue of vote buying cannot be ascribed to him.

“But if you see the level of the results that came on time, you will know that he was trying to prove a point because the results came in almost at the same time.

“It didn’t take him time to produce the result of the election. So, there we can give him a good benefit.”

On his own, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, said plainly that the INEC boss did excellently well in the election.

He particularly said Professor Amupitan proved that he is not a man that would dwell on excuses for failure and that he matched his words with action and results.

“I do not like people who give excuses for anything they are doing. I was very impressed that Amupitan,,” he said.

“Three weeks to an election in which he was going to organise, he did not give excuses that look, oh, I just came in, I have only three weeks, I don’t know. He said judge me from the Anambra election.

“I was very impressed. He showed a man who does not want to give excuses because excuses and successes do not go together. He could have as well said, you know, I have three weeks, I don’t know what I’m going to see and everybody would say, yes, yes, that makes a point, but no. He said, I’m going to organise the election, start judging me from it. You know why? He showed a determination to do the right thing.

“Now, I am not like saying I have put all my trust in him now. No, because Yakubu did the same thing with the Edo election and all those elections that came at that time. He organised wonderful elections then.

“That was when IREV came. You know, the time that Obaseki won the Oshiomhole group with all their might.

“So I am not saying that I am like not approving him completely, but I am impressed with what he did in Anambra State. Majorly, what people are complaining about in Anambra State is vote buying,” he said.