A photograph circulating on social media has sparked fresh controversy over the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after an official pictured alongside its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, in London was alleged to be wearing a cap associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The photograph showed members of the INEC delegation arriving at Chatham House for a dialogue on Nigeria’s 2027 elections, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
The event was held under the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
The image quickly spread across X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, with some social media users accusing the man wearing the cap of being part of a compromised electoral system and calling for the photograph to be widely circulated.
However, DDM could not independently verified the identity of the man in the photograph, the make of the cap or the circumstances surrounding its use. INEC had also not addressed the specific allegation as of the time of reporting.
The controversy came amid growing scrutiny of Amupitan’s neutrality during his appearance at Chatham House, where he faced questions about his political impartiality.
Amupitan, who assumed office in October 2025, denied owning or operating an X account allegedly used to express support for President Bola Tinubu and the APC during the 2023 general election.
“My loyalty is solely to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act,” he told the audience, insisting that his leadership of the electoral commission would remain impartial.
Outside the venue, the INEC chairman also faced protests from Nigerians living abroad, who surrounded his vehicle, criticised the commission over alleged irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register and demanded his resignation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The protesters accused INEC of favouring the ruling APC, an allegation the commission has repeatedly denied.
During the London dialogue, Amupitan also announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28 to test the commission’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
He further assured Nigerians that inaccurate results would not be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Despite the assurances, the photograph continued to attract criticism online, with some users questioning the commission’s neutrality.
One viral post read, “They hide their families abroad while destroying Nigeria through electoral impunity.”
