By Sabiu Abdullahi
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asked Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to step down over allegations of partisan conduct.
The controversy follows claims circulated online that Amupitan operated a personal account on X and used it to engage with politically biased content.
However, the INEC chairman has denied the allegation. Through his chief press secretary, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan described the claim as “entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors”. He also stated that he has not taken part in political commentary and urged the public to disregard what he called misinformation.
In a statement shared on X on Saturday, Abdullahi said the credibility of the INEC chairman must remain beyond question. He argued that the alleged post undermines trust in the country’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 comments linked to Amupitan suggest he has not met the expectations required 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 added that the ADC plans to petition relevant bodies, including foreign governments and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the allegation.
“We will also renew and escalate our civil disobedience action until the INEC Chairman leaves office,” he added.