Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson of African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called for the immediate resignation of Joash Amupitan, chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following allegations of partisan commentary.
Gatekeepers News reports that recent claims circulating online suggested that Amupitan allegedly operated a personal X account and engaged with a politically partisan post.
However, Amupitan, through Adedayo Oketola, his chief press secretary (CPS), dismissed the allegation as entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.
He maintained that he has never engaged in political commentary and urged the public to disregard what he described as misinformation.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Abdullahi insisted that the credibility of the INEC chairman must remain beyond question.
He described the alleged post linked to Amupitan as a “grave affront” to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion. He must not only be independent, but he must also be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent. That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections.” the statement reads.
“However, more troubling is the desperate attempt to tamper with digital records, to erase evidence of his previous partisanship. This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability.”
Abdullahi said the allegations suggest that Amupitan has not met the standard expected of an electoral umpire.
“The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate in a match. This is why Professor Amupitan must resign. Now,” Abdullahi said.
“Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy.”
He also said the ADC would petition relevant institutions, including foreign governments and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the issue.
“We will also renew and escalate our civil disobedience action until the INEC Chairman leaves office,” he added.
