Working People United, WoPU, has strongly condemned the disruption and heckling of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, by diaspora protesters outside Chatham House in London, describing the incident as irresponsible, undemocratic, and damaging to Nigeria’s international image.
In a statement issued on Friday, its National Coordinator, Comrade Prince Williams Eniredonana Akporeha, said WoPU, as a responsible and patriotic civic group that believes in Nigeria’s greatness, considered Thursday’s incident in London highly inappropriate.
While peaceful protest remains a fundamental democratic right, WoPU noted that the actions of those who obstructed and harassed the INEC Chairman crossed the boundaries of constructive civic engagement.
Prof. Amupitan was in London to engage stakeholders and discuss Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections when protesters reportedly blocked his vehicle, displayed placards, and demanded his resignation over concerns relating to the preliminary voters’ register.
Such conduct does not advance democratic accountability but rather undermines the credibility of the very institutions responsible for safeguarding the electoral process.
What happened in London was shameful, irresponsible, and undemocratic. Democracy thrives on dialogue, accountability, and respect for institutions. Attempting to obstruct and publicly humiliate the head of a nation's electoral body on foreign soil does not strengthen democracy; it diminishes it.
WoPU, a movement comprising workers, traders, artisans, professionals, and grassroots supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across Nigeria, expressed concern that a globally respected policy platform such as Chatham House was used as a backdrop for actions capable of projecting a negative image of the country.
In fairness to Prof. Amupitan, he has so far demonstrated transparency and commitment to electoral integrity through recent reforms and disclosures regarding the voter registration process.
Only recently, INEC, under Prof. Amupitan’s leadership, announced that 1,609,553 invalid entries had been removed from the voters’ register. These included 1,608,680 invalid registrations from the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise and 873 verified deceased persons.
The Commission also disclosed plans to prosecute 54 individuals across 10 states for offences including multiple registrations and photo substitution. These actions reflect a commitment to strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Rather than criticising a Chairman who is actively sanitising the voters’ register and exposing electoral fraud, such efforts should be acknowledged and encouraged. The path to credible elections lies in transparency, verification, and institutional reform, not in staging public confrontations abroad.
The announcement of additional technological safeguards designed to prevent the upload of fraudulent results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2027 general elections is another milestone by the Commission that should be applauded.
Prof. Amupitan has also demonstrated openness by engaging stakeholders and addressing public concerns directly. Responding to transparency with hostility sends the wrong signal to public officials committed to accountability and reform.
Also worthy of commendation is the INEC Chairman’s steady record of professionalism, integrity, and neutrality since assuming office. This is why WoPU maintains that public institutions should be strengthened through constructive criticism and evidence-based engagement.
WoPU is equally using this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to promoting people-centred governance, economic inclusion, social welfare, and national development. The movement is therefore resolved to continue mobilising citizens through its nationwide grassroots structures in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and efforts aimed at improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
The movement also expressed its support for ongoing government initiatives targeting workers’ welfare, employment creation, poverty reduction, and pension reforms, which it believes are contributing significantly to growing public confidence in the administration.
While some are focused on disruption and division, the government is implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities for Nigerians. Ultimately, the judgment of the people will be delivered through democratic participation and the ballot box.
About Working People United (WoPU)
Working People United, WoPU, is a broad-based socio-political movement comprising workers, traders, artisans, professionals, and grassroots stakeholders committed to advancing good governance, economic empowerment, social welfare, and national development across Nigeria.