ADC Reps Caucus Demands INEC Chairman’s Removal Over Alleged Partisanship

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, Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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

In a resolution issued after the meeting, the ADC lawmakers accused the INEC chairman of actions and statements that they said were inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral body.

They referenced allegations that Amupitan previously operated a personal 𝕏 account where he reportedly expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress and shared controversial posts relating to claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

Although INEC has denied any link between the chairman and the account, the caucus insisted that findings from online investigations suggested otherwise.

“The office of the INEC chairman is too critical to be tainted by allegations of partisanship,” the caucus stated.

The lawmakers warned that failing to address the issue could undermine public trust and threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC caucus also alleged that the electoral commission, under Amupitan’s leadership, had taken steps capable of denying the party fair participation in future elections.

According to them, INEC interfered in the party’s internal affairs by recognising what they described as an illegitimate leadership faction instead of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark.

The lawmakers argued that such actions contradict the commission’s constitutional role as an independent electoral umpire.

The caucus further alleged collusion between some officials of INEC and members of the judiciary to influence the outcome of a pending court case involving the ADC’s leadership dispute scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2026.

Citing Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, the lawmakers argued that courts lacked jurisdiction over internal party matters and warned against what they described as judicial overreach.

They also vowed to petition the National Judicial Council over alleged compromise and misconduct by judicial officers.

The lawmakers described the development as an “existential threat” to Nigeria’s democracy and urged Nigerians across political divides to prioritise the protection of democratic institutions.

They lamented what they called a decline in judicial integrity compared to past eras and invoked 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.