The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed demands for the resignation of its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), describing such calls as an attack on the Commission’s constitutional autonomy.
In a statement released Thursday evening in Abuja, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, refuted recent accusations from political groups alleging bias by the Chairman. These allegations followed INEC’s compliance with a recent Court of Appeal ruling.
“INEC is a constitutional body. The appointment, tenure, and removal of the Chairman and National Commissioners are strictly regulated by law,” the statement read.
“The Chairman’s office is not subject to the whims of any political party or interest group. Calls for removal outside the constitutionally prescribed procedures threaten the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.”
INEC explained that its decision to adhere to the Court of Appeal ruling was to avoid scenarios similar to those in Zamfara and Plateau States, where elected officials were removed after the Commission ignored court directives. The Commission also emphasized that defying a Federal High Court order could have disrupted ongoing legal processes.
Rejecting claims that it undermines Nigeria’s multiparty system, INEC pointed to its recent recognition of new political parties, including the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Nigeria Democratic Congress, and National Democratic Party, raising the total number of registered parties to 22. “INEC remains an impartial regulator, not a participant in electoral contests,” the statement stressed.
Regarding the upcoming nationwide voter revalidation exercise, INEC clarified that the initiative predates Professor Amupitan’s tenure and serves an administrative purpose. The exercise will cover all Local Government Areas and Polling Units to verify voter registration, remove duplicates, and delete deceased voters.
“Voter revalidation is critical to maintaining the integrity of the National Register of Voters,” INEC stated. “This exercise targets no particular region, party, or demographic, and will offer comprehensive digital participation options.”
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to preparing for upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (August 2026), cautioning against politicizing administrative actions.
“Our loyalty is to the Constitution and the Nigerian people’s will. Calls for Professor Amupitan’s resignation are misplaced,” the statement concluded.
