“Amupitan Must Resign Now or Face Civil Disobedience,” ADC Warns

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, citing allegations that question his neutrality.

The opposition party issued the demand on Saturday, warning that it would escalate civil disobedience if Amupitan remains in office. The development follows renewed scrutiny over alleged past social media activity linked to the INEC chairman.

The controversy gained momentum after a U.S.-based Nigerian academic published claims that archived posts from an account bearing Amupitan’s name suggested support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including statements perceived as favorable to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The claims have since triggered widespread reactions online, with opinions divided over the authenticity of the posts.

INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed concerns about the allegations, cautioning the public about impersonators and misinformation campaigns. The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting credible elections and urged Nigerians to rely on official communication channels.

However, the ADC rejected this position, describing the allegations as damaging to public trust in the electoral body. In a statement, party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi argued that the situation undermines the credibility expected of an election umpire.

According to Abdullahi, the issue extends beyond the alleged posts to include claims of attempts to alter digital records. He said such actions raise serious concerns about accountability and transparency within the electoral system.

The party maintained that the integrity of the electoral process depends on public confidence in its leadership and warned that failure to address the situation could set a negative precedent.

ADC also disclosed plans to update its petitions to relevant institutions, including international bodies and the Nigerian Bar Association, while vowing to intensify its protest actions until the INEC chairman steps down.

As of the time of reporting, Professor Amupitan has not issued a direct response to the allegations.