The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially submitted a formal petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the immediate removal or voluntary resignation of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisan conduct and constitutional breaches.
In the petition, the opposition party accused Amupitan of actions it described as inconsistent with the neutrality expected of the electoral umpire, claiming his conduct poses a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
ADC officials alleged that recent decisions and public engagements by the INEC leadership appear to favour certain political interests, thereby undermining public confidence in the commission’s independence.
The party further argued that such alleged behaviour, if not addressed, could erode trust in the electoral process ahead of future elections in the country.
It also claimed that the integrity of INEC as an institution must be preserved to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, warning that perceived bias could trigger political tension.
According to the petition, the ADC is calling for either an immediate resignation by Prof. Joash Amupitan or his compulsory removal in line with constitutional provisions guiding public office accountability.
The party insisted that no individual, regardless of status, should be allowed to compromise the neutrality of the electoral body responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s democratic process.
ADC further urged INEC to uphold strict adherence to its operational guidelines and ensure that all officials maintain absolute political neutrality in both public and private conduct.
While the allegations remain unverified, the petition has already sparked political debate, with observers calling for calm and urging due process in addressing the concerns raised by the opposition party.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC has not issued an official response to the petition, and Prof. Joash Amupitan has also not publicly reacted to the allegations.
