The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the immediate resignation or removal of its Chairman, Prof. Josah Ojo Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship and constitutional breaches.
In a letter dated April 8 and addressed to the Commission, the party accused the INEC leadership of actions it described as biased and inconsistent with the constitutional mandate of the electoral body. The ADC warned that such conduct, if left unchecked, could erode public trust and undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
According to the party, the chairman allegedly overstepped his statutory responsibilities by interpreting court judgments—an authority the ADC insists lies solely with the judiciary.
The party argued that INEC’s role is limited to implementing judicial decisions as delivered, not offering interpretations that could influence political outcomes.
The letter reportedly expressed concern that the Commission’s actions may set a troubling precedent capable of affecting internal party processes and the broader electoral framework.
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The ADC maintained that for Nigeria’s democracy to thrive, INEC must operate with strict neutrality and adhere fully to constitutional provisions guiding its operations. It therefore called for urgent corrective action, including the resignation or removal of the chairman, to preserve the integrity of the electoral system.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official response to the petition.
The development comes amid heightened political activities and internal party realignments ahead of future electoral processes, placing increased scrutiny on the role of the electoral umpire in safeguarding transparency and fairness.