- He explained that the commission’s recent actions were in line with a ruling of the Court of Appeal
- It warned that calls for removal outside due process undermine the independence of the electoral body
- According to INEC, the exercise, planned for all local government areas and polling units
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected calls for the resignation of its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, describing such demands as a threat to the commission’s constitutional independence.
In a statement issued on Thursday night in Abuja, Eko Hot Blog gathered INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said allegations of bias against the chairman by some political figures were baseless.
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He explained that the commission’s recent actions were in line with a ruling of the Court of Appeal.
INEC stressed that its leadership is governed strictly by constitutional provisions, noting that the appointment, tenure, and removal of the chairman and national commissioners cannot be influenced by political interests.
It warned that calls for removal outside due process undermine the independence of the electoral body.
The commission said it complied with the appellate court’s judgment to avoid a repeat of past incidents in states like Zamfara and Plateau, where failure to follow court orders led to the removal of elected officials.
It added that disregarding directives from the Federal High Court could have disrupted ongoing legal proceedings.
Responding to claims that it is weakening Nigeria’s multi-party system, INEC highlighted its recent recognition of new political parties, bringing the total number of registered parties to 22. It maintained that it remains an impartial regulator rather than a political player.
On the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise, the commission clarified that the initiative predates Amupitan’s tenure and is purely administrative.
According to INEC, the exercise, planned for all local government areas and polling units, aims to clean up the voter register by verifying records, eliminating duplicate entries, and removing deceased voters.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to preparing for upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states, cautioning against politicising its routine activities.
INEC’s response follows criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), whose National Chairman, David Mark, had earlier called for Amupitan’s resignation, accusing the commission of bias and interference in party affairs.
Mark also alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, a claim INEC has firmly denied.
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