INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of political bias linked to past social media activity.
The opposition party issued the demand while reacting to claims that archived posts on an X account allegedly associated with the INEC chairman contained expressions perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The controversy intensified after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, referenced the alleged posts in a published column, arguing that they raise concerns about the neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
His claims triggered widespread debate on social media, with users divided over the authenticity and interpretation of the alleged tweets.
In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, cautioned against misinformation and warned of impersonators and cybercriminals using fake identities to spread false narratives.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to delivering credible elections under Prof. Amupitan’s leadership.
However, the ADC maintained that the allegations, if not properly addressed, undermine public trust in the electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the party, spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the situation as a serious threat to democratic integrity, insisting that an electoral umpire must be beyond suspicion.
The party argued that recent revelations and public discussions surrounding the alleged posts have cast doubt on the chairman’s neutrality.
It further alleged attempts to manipulate digital records, describing such actions as unacceptable for someone entrusted with overseeing elections.
The ADC therefore demanded Amupitan’s resignation and warned that it would escalate its actions, including renewed civil disobedience campaigns, if he remains in office.
The party also stated that it would forward petitions to relevant local and international institutions over the matter.
