The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected demands for the resignation of its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), calling such calls an affront to its constitutional autonomy. In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, INEC's Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed allegations of bias as unfounded. The response followed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) calling for Amupitan's resignation over claims of partisanship and undermining democracy. INEC stressed that its actions, including compliance with a recent Court of Appeal ruling, were taken to avoid a repeat of past incidents in Zamfara and Plateau States, where disobedience of court orders led to the removal of elected officials.
The Commission defended its neutrality, noting it recently recognized three new political parties—Democratic Leadership Alliance, Nigeria Democratic Congress, and National Democratic Party—bringing the total to 22. "INEC remains a neutral regulator, not a participant in political competition," the statement read. It clarified that the nationwide voter revalidation exercise, set for all Local Government Areas and Polling Units, began before Amupitan's appointment and is aimed at verifying voter status, removing duplicates, and deleting deceased voters. Digital options will be available, and the process is not targeted at any region or party. INEC reaffirmed its commitment to upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (August 2026), stating that its allegiance is to the Constitution and the Nigerian people.
The ADC's demand for Professor Amupitan's resignation, based on a dispute over internal party recognition, exposes how quickly political actors weaponize institutional actions when outcomes don't favor them. INEC's decision to follow a Court of Appeal ruling—not invent policy on the fly—should not be mistaken for bias. The fact that voter revalidation predates Amupitan's leadership and aligns with past technical exercises suggests continuity, not conspiracy. For Nigerian voters, the real takeaway is this: when parties like ADC cry foul over court-backed processes, it's less about democracy and more about losing control.
