HURIWA Accuses INEC Chairman Amupitan of Wasteful Foreign Trips

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, of engaging in what it described as unnecessary foreign travels instead of focusing on restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, the group criticised Amupitan’s recent participation in an international election programme in South Korea, describing it as a “meaningless globetrotting exercise” that adds little value to Nigeria’s electoral process.

HURIWA specifically questioned the INEC Chairman’s attendance at the International Election Observation Programme (IEOP) in South Korea, noting that it came only weeks after a similar official trip to India. The group argued that such engagements do not address what it described as declining voter confidence and growing apathy ahead of future elections.

According to HURIWA, INEC leadership should be more focused on domestic electoral reforms, voter trust-building, and tackling issues such as vote buying and alleged institutional inefficiencies rather than participating in overseas seminars and observation missions.

The group also alleged that repeated foreign trips by top electoral officials suggest misplaced priorities, claiming that resources spent on such travels could be better used in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure and engaging directly with citizens.

However, INEC, through its spokesperson Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, defended the commission’s participation in the South Korean programme. The commission stated that the visit was part of the International Election Observation Programme (IEOP), organised by the South Korean National Election Commission, aimed at sharing knowledge and observing global best practices in electoral management.

INEC explained that its delegation observed early voting processes in Seoul and engaged with international counterparts on modern electoral techniques, noting that such exchanges are intended to improve Nigeria’s electoral system in line with global standards.

The delegation included national commissioners and senior technical officials, who are expected to return with insights on election administration, voter engagement, and technological innovations in voting systems.

Despite the commission’s defence, HURIWA maintained that public trust in INEC remains fragile and urged the electoral body to prioritise domestic confidence-building measures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group warned that failure to address voter apathy and credibility concerns could further weaken participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.