The African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan.
The lawmakers allege partisanship ahead of the 2027 general elections, a concern they said could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
The demand followed the caucus’ inaugural meeting on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and raised concerns about the neutrality of the electoral body.
In a resolution issued after the meeting, the lawmakers accused Amupitan of actions and statements they said were inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral chief.
They cited allegations that the INEC chairman previously operated a personal X account where he reportedly expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and shared controversial content. While INEC has denied any link between Amupitan and the account, the caucus insisted that digital forensic findings suggest otherwise.
“The office of the INEC chairman is too critical to be tainted by allegations of partisanship,” the caucus said, warning that failure to act could undermine public trust and jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 elections.
The lawmakers also alleged that under Amupitan’s leadership, INEC had taken steps that could deny the ADC fair participation in future elections, including recognising what they described as an illegitimate faction within the party instead of the one led by former Senate President David Mark.
They further accused the commission of breaching its constitutional role and warned that its actions could push the country toward undemocratic practices.
The caucus also alleged collusion between some INEC officials and members of the judiciary to influence the outcome of a pending court case on the party’s leadership dispute, scheduled for April 14, 2026.
Citing Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, the lawmakers argued that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party matters and cautioned against what they described as judicial overreach.
In a further escalation, the caucus said it would petition the National Judicial Council over alleged compromise among some judicial officers, calling for investigations and possible sanctions.
Referencing recent remarks by Nigerian Bar Association President Afam Osigwe on concerns about judicial bias and political influence, the lawmakers described the situation as an “existential threat” to Nigeria’s democracy.
“INEC must not only be independent in name but must also demonstrate impartiality, transparency, credibility, and trustworthiness,” the caucus added.
