The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for the immediate resignation or removal of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisan conduct, gross misconduct, and constitutional breaches.
The petition, dated April 8, 2026, was submitted by the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and received at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja at about 11:29 a.m.
In the document, the ADC accused the INEC boss of compromising the neutrality of the electoral umpire through what it described as “disgraceful and unbecoming” public statements and actions.
“We write to convey our strongest condemnation of your recent actions and public statements, which have further deepened concerns about your fitness to continue in office,” the petition read.
The party particularly faulted the chairman for allegedly assuming the role of interpreting judicial pronouncements, insisting that such responsibility rests solely with the judiciary.
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“The interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive preserve of the Judiciary,” the ADC stated.
“For the chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers.”
The ADC further alleged that INEC, under Prof. Amupitan’s leadership, has abandoned its constitutional duty of neutrality and aligned with “factional interests,” warning that such conduct could erode public confidence in the nation’s electoral process.
The controversy, according to the petition, is linked to internal disputes within the party, including a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where a National Working Committee (NWC) was dissolved.
The party argued that INEC’s subsequent actions and correspondence suggested bias and institutional overreach.
“It is not the role of INEC to act as a court of law or an advocate,” the party stated.
“Its duty is clear: to operate strictly within the bounds of the Constitution with absolute neutrality and professionalism.”
The ADC warned that the alleged actions pose a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and called for urgent steps to restore the credibility and integrity of the electoral body.
