The House of Representatives caucus of the African Democratic Congress (African Democratic Congress) has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of political bias ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers made their position known after an inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where they reviewed recent political developments and raised concerns about the neutrality of the electoral umpire.

In a strongly worded resolution, the ADC caucus alleged that the INEC chairman had engaged in actions and made statements they considered inconsistent with the expected impartiality of his office.

They referenced claims that Amupitan previously operated a personal X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly used to express support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) and to share controversial political commentary.

Although INEC has denied any connection between the chairman and the account, the caucus insisted that digital forensic claims and online investigations raise serious questions that must be addressed transparently.

The lawmakers warned that any perceived compromise of the electoral body’s leadership could erode public trust and undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.

They further alleged that under Amupitan’s leadership, INEC has taken decisions that could negatively affect the African Democratic Congress’ participation in upcoming elections, including disputes over recognition of party leadership factions.

According to the caucus, such actions represent a deviation from the commission’s constitutional duty as an independent electoral referee and could deepen political tensions ahead of the polls.

The lawmakers also raised concerns about alleged interference in ongoing court proceedings relating to the party’s internal disputes, scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2026.

Citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, they argued that courts should not interfere in internal party matters and warned against what they described as judicial overreach.

In a further escalation, the caucus vowed to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for investigations into alleged misconduct by some judicial officers.

They also referenced comments by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, on concerns about judicial independence and perceived political influence.

Describing the situation as a threat to democratic stability, the lawmakers urged Nigerians to remain vigilant in protecting democratic institutions.

They insisted that INEC must not only be independent in name but must also demonstrate fairness, transparency, and credibility in practice.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Nigerians in Diaspora Commission), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, popularly known as “Obidients,” describing them as extremists whose conduct could negatively affect his political future.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Dabiri-Erewa alleged that the behaviour of Obi’s supporters could become a liability ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the former presidential candidate must take steps to control them.

According to her, the actions of the supporters could ultimately backfire politically.

“Peter Obi has actually raised monsters… they will eventually be his downfall if he does not call them to order,” she wrote, while also expressing confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win the 2027 elections.

She further argued that political leaders should take responsibility for the conduct of their followers, insisting that unchecked online behaviour could damage political reputations.

Responding to critics who challenged her comments, Dabiri-Erewa maintained that she has the right to express her views on her personal social media account, despite holding public office.

She dismissed calls for restraint, stating that her posts were made in a personal capacity and not in her official role.

Her comments came after backlash from Obi supporters following her earlier post about a meeting with Nigerian professionals in Silicon Valley, United States, where she highlighted engagements with diaspora innovators and her experience riding in a driverless car.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has disclosed plans to engage independent forensic experts to investigate resurfaced social media posts allegedly linked to an account associated with its Chairman, Joash Amupitan.

The commission said the decision is aimed at ensuring transparency and safeguarding institutional integrity as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, said the commission is treating the matter with seriousness and will not rely on unverified screenshots or social media claims in reaching conclusions.

“We are taking this further… I will not base my judgment on screenshots. I will not allow that to guide my conclusion,” Bayode stated.

He explained that while the commission has already referred the matter to security agencies, an external forensic review will also be carried out to verify the authenticity of the posts and the account in question.

According to him, the involvement of third-party experts is necessary to ensure a credible and technically sound investigation, alongside INEC’s internal review processes.

“We are also going to be engaging a third-party forensic expert to look at this… and that will guide the conclusion of the commission,” he added.

Bayode noted that the issue has been escalated to security agencies to trace the origin and possible manipulation of the digital footprints linked to the account.

He warned that the controversy underscores broader concerns about digital impersonation and misinformation, especially as INEC intensifies preparations for technology-driven elections in 2027.

The ICT Director added that any breach of public trust at this stage could undermine confidence in the commission’s planned electronic systems for the upcoming polls.

The controversy follows claims amplified online after an artificial intelligence tool, Grok, linked a social media account to the INEC Chairman, suggesting it contained posts perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The allegations sparked widespread debate, with civil society groups and political commentators calling for clarification over concerns about electoral neutrality.

However, INEC has firmly denied the claims, stating that the Chairman does not operate any personal X (formerly Twitter) account.

The commission described the reports as false and part of a coordinated attempt to undermine its credibility.

There was mild drama at the Kaduna State High Court on Monday as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was overheard making remarks about the forthcoming national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The convention, scheduled for Tuesday, has remained a subject of controversy, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warning the party against proceeding with the exercise.

Upon his arrival at the court premises around 9 a.m., El-Rufai, a prominent figure within the ADC, was seen briefly engaging in a conversation with a loyalist.

Holding a document in his hand, he reportedly asked, “So tomorrow is the convention, right?” to which the associate responded, “God’s willing.”

The former governor smiled and proceeded into the courtroom alongside his legal team and one of his wives.

Security presence was visibly heightened around the court, with tight monitoring of entry points and surrounding roads.

El-Rufai is currently standing trial before the Kaduna State High Court alongside one Amadu Sule over allegations including abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

The charges, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), are separate from a pending matter before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, where a bail application is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the ADC has dismissed the trial as politically motivated, describing it as a witch-hunt and accusing the Federal Government of targeting opposition figures.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will not rely on artificial intelligence-generated analysis or social media screenshots in its ongoing investigation into alleged digital impersonation involving its chairman, Joash Amupitan.

Speaking during an interview, INEC’s ICT Director, Lawrence Bayode, explained that the commission is prioritising credible and verifiable evidence as it probes claims linked to a social media account purportedly associated with the chairman.

According to Bayode, the commission has already engaged security agencies and plans to involve independent forensic experts to ascertain the authenticity of the account and the content circulating online.

“We rely strictly on evidence. Screenshots alone cannot form the basis of our conclusions,” he said, stressing that unverified digital materials would not guide the outcome of the investigation.

He disclosed that the commission is also conducting internal technical reviews as part of efforts to establish the facts surrounding the controversy.

Bayode further noted that the issue highlights broader concerns about digital impersonation and misinformation, particularly as INEC prepares to deploy more technology in the 2027 general elections.

He warned that emerging digital threats must be addressed early to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

On the use of artificial intelligence tools such as Grok in analysing the situation, Bayode cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from AI-generated outputs, noting that such systems can produce inaccurate or misleading results.

“Artificial intelligence can sometimes generate false interpretations. That is why every output must be independently verified,” he said.

The controversy stems from resurfaced social media activity linked to a 2023 post by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, which some critics alleged received engagement from an account believed to belong to the INEC chairman.

INEC, however, has consistently denied the claims, maintaining that the chairman does not operate any personal account on X (formerly Twitter) and has never engaged in partisan political commentary.

The commission described the allegations as part of a coordinated misinformation effort and reaffirmed its commitment to working with security agencies to identify those responsible for the impersonation.

Legal experts have dismissed claims that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) is acting in breach of the 2024 ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on local government autonomy, insisting that the commission remains within the ambit of the law.

The clarification follows concerns raised by some interest groups opposing the proposed conduct of local government elections in Enugu State, alleging that the move contradicts the Supreme Court’s position on the independence of local governments as the third tier of government.

However, legal opinions made available to DAILY GAZETTE argue that ENSIEC is fully justified in fixing September 26, 2026, for the council elections.

According to the analysts, the apex court’s decision in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors (2024) affirmed the autonomy of local governments but did not stipulate a uniform tenure for elected council officials.

They further explained that under existing Enugu State laws, local government chairmen and councillors operate a two-year tenure, which remains valid and enforceable.

“ENSIEC’s decision to conduct elections upon the expiration of the current tenure is consistent with the legal framework guiding local government administration in the state,” the analysts noted.

The experts maintained that the planned elections do not violate either the Constitution or the Supreme Court ruling, but rather demonstrate adherence to democratic principles and constitutional order.

The development comes amid ongoing debate by some groups allegedly pushing for tenure elongation for current council officials elected in 2024.

The groups have questioned whether the planned elections are an attempt to shorten their tenure or undermine the authority of the apex court.

They insist that electoral bodies must strictly comply with judicial pronouncements and protect the tenure of elected officials as part of efforts to safeguard democratic integrity at the grassroots level.

Despite these concerns, legal analysts maintain that ENSIEC’s actions are lawful and in line with both judicial interpretation and extant state legislation.

Legal experts have dismissed claims that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) is acting in breach of the 2024 ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on local government autonomy, insisting that the commission remains within the ambit of the law.

The clarification follows concerns raised by some interest groups opposing the proposed conduct of local government elections in Enugu State, alleging that the move contradicts the Supreme Court’s position on the independence of local governments as the third tier of government.

However, legal opinions made available to DAILY GAZETTE argue that ENSIEC is fully justified in fixing September 26, 2026, for the council elections.

According to the analysts, the apex court’s decision in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors (2024) affirmed the autonomy of local governments but did not stipulate a uniform tenure for elected council officials.

They further explained that under existing Enugu State laws, local government chairmen and councillors operate a two-year tenure, which remains valid and enforceable.

“ENSIEC’s decision to conduct elections upon the expiration of the current tenure is consistent with the legal framework guiding local government administration in the state,” the analysts noted.

The experts maintained that the planned elections do not violate either the Constitution or the Supreme Court ruling, but rather demonstrate adherence to democratic principles and constitutional order.

The development comes amid ongoing debate by some groups allegedly pushing for tenure elongation for current council officials elected in 2024.

The groups have questioned whether the planned elections are an attempt to shorten their tenure or undermine the authority of the apex court.

They insist that electoral bodies must strictly comply with judicial pronouncements and protect the tenure of elected officials as part of efforts to safeguard democratic integrity at the grassroots level.

Despite these concerns, legal analysts maintain that ENSIEC’s actions are lawful and in line with both judicial interpretation and extant state legislation.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in a fresh suit seeking to restrain former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as National Chairman and Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), respectively.

The judgment, which was initially scheduled for Monday, was shifted by 24 hours, leaving party members and supporters from both factions stranded at the court premises.

As early as 8 a.m., the courtroom was already filled with loyalists aligned with the contending groups, all awaiting the court’s decision on the matter.

The suit was instituted by a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Hon. Leke Abejide.

Presiding over the case, Justice Musa Suleiman Liman announced the adjournment due to other pressing official engagements.

The decision was later formally conveyed to parties through the court registrar, a development that sparked visible frustration among supporters.

The leadership crisis within the ADC has continued to deepen, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently withdrawing recognition from the party’s leadership factions.

Details shortly..

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the reassignment of Justice R.M. Aikawa from the Federal High Court, Kaduna, from handling his ongoing criminal trial.

Justice Aikawa is currently presiding over a 10-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which includes allegations of abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud involving N579.6 million and $1.1 million.

In a petition dated April 9, 2026, El-Rufai urged the Chief Justice to direct the transfer of the case to another judge within the Kaduna division, citing concerns over fairness and judicial integrity.

He argued that the continued handling of the case by Justice Aikawa raises serious questions of bias and undermines confidence in the judicial process.

The former governor maintained that multiple complaints alleging bias against the judge are still pending before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the National Judicial Council.

He added that the circumstances surrounding the case present compelling grounds for reassignment.

According to El-Rufai, even the perception of bias is sufficient to compromise the credibility of the proceedings, warning that allowing the judge to continue could expose the case to potential reversal on appeal.

He further noted that the matter involves overlapping issues with earlier proceedings within the same judicial division, reinforcing his call for the case to be reassigned in the interest of justice.

El-Rufai also urged the CJN to take administrative steps to protect the integrity of the judiciary and ensure public confidence in the legal system.

Meanwhile, a bail hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 14, 2026, as the legal battle continues.