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, over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The caucus made its position known following its inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral umpire.

In a strongly worded resolution, the lawmakers accused Amupitan of exhibiting actions and making statements deemed inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral body head.

They cited allegations that the INEC chairman previously operated a personal X (formerly Twitter) account where he reportedly expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and shared controversial content relating to claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission has denied any link between Amupitan and the account, the ADC caucus claimed that digital forensic findings and online investigations suggest otherwise, raising questions about his integrity and transparency.

“The office of the INEC chairman is too critical to be tainted by allegations of partisanship,” the caucus stated, warning that failure to address the issue could undermine public trust and jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The lawmakers further alleged that under Amupitan’s leadership, INEC has taken steps that could deny the ADC fair participation in upcoming elections. They accused the commission of interfering in the party’s internal affairs by recognising what they described as an illegitimate leadership faction, contrary to the faction led by former Senate President, David Mark, which they said had previously met INEC’s requirements.

According to the caucus, the commission’s actions amount to a breach of its constitutional role as an independent arbiter and risk plunging the nation into undemocratic practices.

The ADC lawmakers also alleged collusion between certain officials of INEC and members of the judiciary to influence the outcome of a pending court case concerning the party’s leadership dispute, scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2026.

Citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly Section 83(5), the caucus argued that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party matters and warned against what it described as judicial overreach.

In a further escalation, the caucus vowed to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it termed the compromise and malfeasance of some judicial officers. It called for investigations and possible removal of judges allegedly influenced by political interests.

The lawmakers referenced recent remarks by Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe, who had raised concerns about growing perceptions of judicial bias and undue political influence, including the controversial practice of politicians gifting vehicles to judges.

Describing the situation as an “existential threat” to Nigeria’s democracy, the ADC caucus urged Nigerians across political divides to prioritise the protection of democratic institutions.

They also lamented what they described as a decline in judicial integrity compared to past eras, invoking the legacies of respected jurists such as Chukwudifu Oputa, Niki Tobi, Kayode Eso, and Mohammed Uwais.

“INEC must not only be independent in name but must also demonstrate impartiality, transparency, credibility, and trustworthiness,” the caucus stated, adding that current public perception suggests a growing disconnect from these ideals. (Daily Trust)

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