The African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the immediate removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday following a meeting of the caucus in Abuja.
The lawmakers said recent actions and statements allegedly attributed to Amupitan had raised concerns about his ability to act as a neutral umpire.
“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 statement read in part.
READ ALSO: ‘Grok Can Hallucinate,’ INEC Dismisses Pro-APC X Post Allegedly Linked To Amupitan
The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied the allegations.
“Even though we are seeing that some guys have carried out a forensic investigation on that account, as we speak, there is no verified forensic evidence linking the chairman to the post,” INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, stated on Channels Television’s, The Morning Brief on Monday.
The demand comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, which the caucus blamed on actions taken by INEC.
At the centre of the dispute is the status of former Senate President, David Mark, as the recognised leader of the party.
The caucus said Mark had previously been acknowledged by INEC as the authentic leader of the ADC after meeting the required legal and administrative conditions, a position it noted was supported by documentation, including an affidavit issued by the commission.
However, the commission’s subsequent decision to withdraw that recognition, as well as its stance on a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala, has, according to the lawmakers, triggered internal divisions, legal battles, and uncertainty over the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
ADC lawmakers argued that INEC’s intervention in what they described as an internal party matter has worsened the crisis and could ultimately prevent the party from fielding candidates.
“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.
