Amupitan Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Allegations of APC Bias, Resignation Calls Grow
Indications are emerging that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, may come under increasing pressure to resign over allegations of political bias in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Country Director of ActionAid, Andrew Mamedu, has called for Amupitan’s resignation over alleged past partisan social media activity, while opposition figures and civil society groups continue to question his neutrality ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy intensified following INEC’s recent decision to withdraw the accreditation of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move the opposition claims reflects bias. INEC, however, said its action was based on an interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling.
Opposition leaders have since accused the electoral body’s chairman of partisanship, citing alleged online posts supporting President Bola Tinubu and the APC. Social media users have also questioned INEC’s denial of ownership of accounts linked to the chairman, demanding clearer explanations.
In response, Amupitan, through his Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and fabricated,” insisting they were designed to undermine the commission’s credibility.
Debate has continued online, with critics arguing that the alleged digital footprint raises concerns about impartiality, even if the posts predate his appointment.
Mamedu maintained that electoral credibility depends not only on fairness but also on public confidence, warning that INEC’s response has raised more questions than answers.
However, public affairs analyst Victor Oluwafemi cautioned against calls for resignation, describing them as premature and potentially destabilising. He stressed that accountability must follow due process, warning that sustained pressure campaigns could set a dangerous precedent where institutions are influenced by public agitation rather than constitutional procedures.
Under Nigeria’s Constitution, the INEC chairman can only be removed by the President with Senate approval by a two-thirds majority, making any immediate removal unlikely without formal proceedings.
The controversy continues to spark nationwide debate over electoral neutrality and the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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