Juliet Ezeh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed calls for the removal of its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, describing such demands as unconstitutional and a threat to the independence of Nigeria’s electoral body.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, INEC clarified that the appointment, tenure, and removal of the Chairman are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution. The Commission emphasized that any call for removal outside the constitutional framework undermines its neutrality and independence.
INEC also addressed misconceptions over the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise. The Commission explained that the exercise, which aims to sanitize the voters’ register and update data from 2011 to 2024, is an administrative audit—not a fresh registration—and will be conducted uniformly across all local government areas with digital access for voters.
The Commission stressed that its recent compliance with a Court of Appeal judgment regarding the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was to prevent electoral disputes similar to those in Zamfara and Plateau states. INEC reaffirmed its neutrality, highlighting that it recently recognized new political parties, bringing the total to 22, as evidence of its commitment to a multi-party democracy.
INEC reiterated that its priority is delivering free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, particularly the upcoming Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (August 2026) off-cycle elections. The Commission dismissed allegations of bias and affirmed that decisions are guided solely by the Constitution and the rule of law.
“The call for the resignation of Professor Amupitan is out of place. INEC remains focused on ensuring transparency, fairness, and integrity in Nigeria’s electoral process,” the statement concluded.
