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.
