Amupitan-Led INEC Clarifies Action Against ADC Leaders

Amupitan-led INEC has clarified its action against ADC leaders.

Philips News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the call made by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to resign immediately.

The ADC, through its national Chairman, David Mark, during their World Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday, called for the sack or resignation of Amupitan, alleging partisan bias.

This was on account of the decision of INEC to remove the names of the party’s leaders from its portal, a decision it described as obedience to a recent Court of Appeal Judgment.

INEC said it recognises the right of stakeholders to express their views, but said it was imperative to clarify that the commission is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A statement signed by Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, noted that the appointment, tenure, and removal of the Chairman and National Commissioners are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The Chairman does not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group. Any call for removal outside the established constitutional process is not only a distraction but a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire,” it said.

“While a political party or a group is allowed to protect their interest, the Commission decided to comply with the Judgment of the Court of Appeal to avert a situation that occurred in Zamfara State and Plateau State where elected officials were removed by the Election Tribunal on account of the disobedience of Court Judgment.

“In addition, the Commission did not want to disobey the preservative order of the court not to do anything or take any step that would render the processes already filed at the Federal High Court nugatory.

“Proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC would amount to a disobedience of that order since the relief claimed in the Originating Summons and other court processes filed include an order restraining INEC from monitoring any meeting, congress and convention of the party.

“Additionally, it was only on the 9th of September 2025 that INEC accepted and approved David Mark’s Exco, which was seven days after the matter was filed at the Federal High Court.

“The order to maintain status quo ante bellum means the position of the parties before the beginning of hostilities. It is either that INEC obey the order of the Court of Appeal fully or refuse to obey it. Section 287(2) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 mandates every person and authority in Nigeria not only to obey the Judgment of the Court of Appeal but also to enforce such Judgment.

“Far from undermining the multi-party system, the Commission under Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has actively expanded the democratic space. The recent registration and recognition of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and National Democratic Party (NDP), bringing the total number of active political parties to 22, is an empirical rebuttal to any claim of a one-party agenda. INEC remains a neutral regulator, not a participant in political competition.

“The Commission’s updates to party leadership records are strictly anchored on compliance with subsisting court orders and statutory requirements under the Electoral Act 2026.

“INEC will not be drawn into the internal strife within political parties, nor will it allow itself to be used as a proxy for resolving organisational challenges that belong to the parties themselves, especially when the Court of Appeal has ordered that the matter be granted accelerated hearing.”

INEC also said that it has noticed an attempt to politicise the planned nationwide Voter Revalidation exercise.

“The decision to revalidate the Voters Register pre-dates the appointment of Professor Amupitan. The proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise is a professional necessity to strengthen the integrity of the National Register of Voters. The current register includes data spanning from 2011 to 2024. This exercise is designed to sanitise the register and is to be executed in phases,” it added.

“The revalidation is intended to confirm the status of registered voters, address issues arising from transfers, multiple registrations, and deceased persons, and enhance the reliability of voter data in Nigeria. It is an administrative audit, not a fresh registration.

“It is not targeted at any region, party, or demographic. It is a uniform, transparent process that will be conducted across all Local Government Areas and Polling Units, with robust digital options for ease of access. All the stakeholders will be carried along on this issue.

“The Commission is currently focused on the surgical precision required for the forthcoming Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (August 2026) off-cycle elections. We will not be distracted by unfounded allegations of collusion or bias. Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people.

“The Commission understands that some decisions can be challenging and may not always align with individual party interests. However, the Commission is dedicated to fostering an electoral environment where transparency and fairness prevail.

“The decisions taken by INEC are based on thorough evaluations and aligned with the legal framework that governs our operations including adherence to the Rule of Law. They are intended to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, which ultimately serve the interests of all stakeholders within our democracy, rather than specific political entities,” the statement added.