The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation or removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joseph Amupitan, accusing him of bias and overstepping his constitutional role.
The demand was made on Wednesday as party leaders and supporters gathered at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja for a protest.
What started as an internal dispute within the ADC last year has now grown into a broader political standoff, raising fresh concerns about INEC’s neutrality as Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the protest, ADC National Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola accused the INEC boss of crossing the line by publicly commenting on court ruling something they insist is strictly the responsibility of the judiciary.
According to the party, such actions blur the boundaries between institutions and undermine confidence in the electoral process. They also argued that INEC’s recent dealings with the party suggest it may no longer be acting as an impartial referee.
“This is not just inappropriate it’s dangerous for the credibility of our elections,” the party warned, adding that any move that tilts the playing field threatens Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The ADC is demanding that the INEC chairman step down or be removed through constitutional means.
It also wants the commission to withdraw what it described as “offensive” correspondence sent to the party, issue a formal apology, and commit to staying out of internal party matters.
To back its claims, the party pointed to a series of decisions it says were properly taken in 2025, including National Executive Committee meetings that produced its current leadership under Mark.
According to the ADC, these processes were transparent, attended by INEC officials, and accepted at the time.
The party further claimed that INEC had previously affirmed the legitimacy of those decisions in court filings but is now under pressure to change its position an allegation it described as deeply troubling.
While acknowledging the work of many officials within the commission, the ADC said the chairman’s actions have damaged public trust in the institution.
It also made it clear that it won’t stop at protests. If its demands are ignored, the party says it is ready to pursue legal action and mobilise broader civic resistance.
“The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy cannot be compromised,” the party said.
