ADC House of Reps caucus asks President Tinubu to sack INEC chairman
The caucus of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the House of Representatives has asked President Bola Tinubu to sack and prosecute the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, over alleged partisanship.
The caucus made the demand on Monday through Hon. Afam Ogene, its leader.
Ogene said recent actions and alleged statements linked to Amupitan have raised concerns about his neutrality ahead of the 2027 elections.
His words: “The caucus raised concerns regarding the impartiality and neutrality of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, to oversee a free, fair, and credible 2027 general elections. This follows recent public statements and actions by the chairman that have been deemed compromising, partisan, and conflicted.
“It has been alleged that he previously made a partisan statement on his personal X account, wherein he expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress. Additionally, he has been accused of posting content alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria.
“Although INEC has denied that Prof Amupitan is the owner of the X account in question, digital forensic analysis and other online investigations by various sources suggest that the account is indeed his and that the phone number used to create it is registered in his name.
“This has raised concerns regarding his transparency, integrity, and trustworthiness, particularly given the critical nature of the office he holds, which will have far-reaching implications for the nation.
“In light of these inconsistencies and concerns regarding impartiality and integrity, the House caucus, on Monday, April 13, 2026, hereby calls for the removal of Prof Amupitan from office and advocates for his prosecution, in order to safeguard the nation against an avoidable descent into undemocratic practices.”
The caucus linked its position to the leadership crisis within the party, accusing INEC of worsening divisions within the ADC through its actions.
The lawmakers said the dispute centres on the removal of Senator David Mark as the recognised leader of the party.
They said Mark had previously been acknowledged by INEC as the authentic leader of the ADC, noting that the commission later withdrew that recognition and allegedly backed a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala.
The lawmakers said the development triggered internal divisions and legal battles and warned that the crisis could prevent the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.
“The caucus is gravely concerned about the ostensibly undemocratic action taken by INEC, under the leadership of Prof Amupitan, which appears to deny the ADC the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming elections. This is being achieved through the perpetuation of a leadership crisis within the party, whereby INEC has abdicated its responsibility as an impartial arbiter and instead intervened in the party’s internal affairs.
“Specifically, the commission seems to be recognising an illegitimate leadership faction, contrary to the authentic leadership of Senator David Mark, which had previously been acknowledged and certified by INEC itself, having met the requisite criteria, as evidenced by a recent affidavit issued by the commission.
“We note that the commission, in collusion with certain elements within the judiciary, is actively working to undermine the aspirations of the ADC, thereby preventing the party from fielding candidates in the forthcoming elections, through duplicitous means that serve to obstruct inclusivity within the democratic process.
“In fact, credible information at our disposal suggests that certain individuals within the judiciary and INEC are collaborating to influence the outcome of a case coming up on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, regarding the leadership question in the ADC, potentially impacting the recognition of a discredited faction,” Ogene said.
