Civil society group demands INEC chair Amupitan steps aside over alleged partisanship
A coalition of civil society actors under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called for the immediate stepping aside of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Ojo Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship ahead of the 2027 general election.
A coalition of civil society actors under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called for the immediate stepping aside of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Ojo Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement, the group said the electoral umpire has lost the credibility required to conduct free and fair elections, citing what it described as a growing crisis of confidence surrounding his office.
The statement, signed by MCE Media Coordinator James Ezema, alleged that recent digital footprints linked to Amupitan suggest partisan leanings in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about the neutrality of the commission.
“Recent developments… have triggered a legitimacy crisis of fundamental proportions,” the group said, adding that although the INEC chairman has denied the allegations, such denials do not extinguish suspicion in an era of digital forensics.
The group argued that the controversy risks escalating into a broader legal and institutional crisis if not urgently addressed, warning that issues such as identity traceability through systems like BVN and NIN, as well as device-level digital logs, could become central in potential legal proceedings.
“In this digital age, denial is not a defence, it is an invitation to forensic scrutiny,” the statement read.
Beyond the immediate allegations, MCE accused INEC of a pattern of conduct it said undermines opposition participation, including administrative inconsistencies and selective enforcement of electoral regulations.
According to the group, such actions point to a troubling trend that could tilt Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state, a development it warned would violate the spirit of constitutional democracy.
The coalition also raised concerns about possible international repercussions, noting that unresolved disputes could be taken to regional judicial bodies such as the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
It warned that Nigeria risks reputational damage, adverse rulings, and even financial liabilities if allegations of electoral bias and suppression of dissent are substantiated at the international level.
On the ethical dimension, the group said any verified evidence of partisan alignment by the INEC chairman would amount to a “moral indictment,” questioning his fitness to oversee elections.
“If validated, they constitute prima facie evidence of pre-existing partisan alignment inconsistent with the neutrality required of an electoral umpire,” the statement added.
The MCE, therefore, demanded that Amupitan immediately step aside to allow for an independent investigation, and called on the federal government to constitute a panel comprising judicial, digital forensic, and civil society experts.
It also urged authorities to halt what it described as intimidation of citizens raising concerns, while calling on INEC to implement reforms to restore public trust.
“Nigeria stands at a democratic crossroads,” the group said. “The integrity of its electoral management body cannot be compromised without grave consequences.”
