The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reiterated its demand for the immediate resignation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, citing revived 2023 social media activity it claims suggests bias toward the ruling party.
ADC national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement released on Saturday, described the alleged earlier partisan remarks as “a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system” and cautioned that the party would intensify civil disobedience until the chairman resigns.
The call follows a growing controversy surrounding an old X exchange. In March 2023, during Lagos State elections, APC national youth leader Dayo Israel shared a claim about winning polling units in an “Igbo-dominated community” where the party had previously faced challenges. A response from an account bearing Amupitan’s name allegedly read “Victory is sure.”
While the original Dayo Israel post is well documented and widely circulated at the time, the claim linking the reply to Amupitan remains disputed.
INEC has earlier dismissed such allegations as falsehoods and pledged to go after those responsible for impersonation or spreading misleading content. Critics, however, argue that digital traces and the timing of account modifications raise valid concerns about neutrality.
The ADC’s renewed stance connects the issue to wider claims of bias. The party has consistently accused INEC under Amupitan of meddling in its internal leadership dispute, particularly over recognition of Senator David Mark’s faction.
Earlier in April, ADC leaders, including Mark, addressed a press conference demanding the removal of Amupitan and all national commissioners, citing a loss of trust in their capacity to oversee credible elections.
Amupitan, a senior advocate and former University of Jos professor, was confirmed as INEC chairman in late 2025. His appointment initially received praise in some quarters for his legal background but soon attracted opposition criticism over perceived ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the latest claims, the ADC said it would revise its petitions to the Nigeria Bar Association, international organisations, and foreign governments, insisting that an electoral umpire “must not only be independent, but must also be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent.”
INEC has maintained its rejection of calls for the chairman’s dismissal, stressing that his tenure is safeguarded under Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and describing the allegations as politically driven.
The situation has heightened public discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections, with analysts cautioning that persistent doubts about the electoral body’s leadership could further weaken confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The ADC, which identifies as part of the opposition alliance, has threatened coordinated nationwide protests if Amupitan stays in office, while urging its members to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
