Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified its call for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, citing concerns over his neutrality and the credibility of the electoral process.
In a strongly worded statement titled “WHY AMUPITAN MUST RESIGN NOW,” the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, described allegations linking the INEC Chairman to a pro-Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweet in 2023 as “a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system.”
The ADC stressed that anyone occupying the position of electoral umpire must not only be independent but must also be widely perceived as such, beyond any reasonable doubt.
The party also raised alarm over alleged attempts to alter or erase digital records tied to the controversy, describing such moves as a deliberate effort to undermine truth and accountability.
“A man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions,” the statement read.
Abdullahi maintained that Professor Amupitan’s actions, public comments, and the emerging digital evidence fall short of the standards expected of someone entrusted with overseeing free and fair elections.
Using a football analogy, the party likened the situation to “a referee running around in the shirt of one of the teams he is supposed to officiate.”
Consequently, the ADC demanded the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman, warning that failure to step down would amount to “an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy.”
The party further disclosed plans to escalate its actions, including updating petitions to relevant institutions such as foreign governments and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), while also vowing to intensify civil disobedience until the INEC Chairman resigns.
Full Statement Below:
“WHY AMUPITAN MUST RESIGN NOW
“INEC denies Chairman’s alleged X account, warns against fake posts
The recent revelation linking a pro-Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweet of 2023 to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Amupitan, is not merely disturbing, it is a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system.
“In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion. He must not only be independent, he must be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent. That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections.
“However, more troubling is the desperate attempt to tamper with digital records, to erase evidence of his previous partisanship.
“This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability.
“A man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions.
“Over the past few days, it has been repeatedly revealed that Professor Amupitan, by his conduct, his utterances, and now by incontrovertible digital evidence, has fallen far below the standard expected of an electoral umpire.
“The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate in a match.
“This is why Professor Amupitan must resign.
“Now. Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy. Relying on this evidence, ADC will be updating our petitions to all relevant institutions, including to foreign governments and the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA.
“We will also renew and escalate our civil disobedience action until the INEC Chairman leaves office.”
