Following the African Democratic Congress’s leadership’s derecognition on Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission has faced harsh criticism.
Heavyweights in the opposition and prominent ADC leaders denounced the electoral umpire for the ruling on Thursday, claiming the commission was influenced by the Federal Government, which is governed by the All Progressives Congress.
Consequently, they demanded that Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), the Chairman of INEC, be removed immediately.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faced significant backlash due to its recent decision to derecognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Following this action, prominent ADC leaders and opposition figures accused INEC of operating under the influence of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and called for the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan. In response, INEC dismissed these calls, maintaining that its leadership acts independently and in accordance with constitutional provisions that govern the tenure and removal of Commission officials.
The ADC’s internal turmoil since July 2025, spurred by the emergence of David Mark as the head of a new National Working Committee and disputes related to former chairman Ralph Nwosu, has resulted in several court cases and a crisis of leadership, putting the party’s readiness for the upcoming 2027 general elections in jeopardy. Mark criticized in a press conference the ongoing attacks on democratic freedoms, demanding Amupitan’s ousting and expressing a lack of confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections.
INEC, through its National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, asserted that its decision to derecognize the ADC’s leaders adhered to a court order intended to maintain the status quo during the ongoing court proceedings. The commission emphasized its role as a neutral regulator, capable of handling multiple political parties, as evidenced by the recent registration of additional parties. INEC insisted it would not interfere in internal party conflicts.
Moreover, INEC clarified that it was acting to prevent a repetition of past judicial failures observed in states like Zamfara and Plateau, emphasizing the necessity of complying with judicial mandates. Despite ADC’s allegations of a one-party agenda, INEC highlighted its commitment to democratic processes, stating that its actions are strictly based on legal frameworks, aiming to facilitate credible elections while maintaining focus on upcoming off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun in 2026.
The commission also sought to suppress any politicization of the voter revalidation exercise, reiterating its objective to enhance the integrity of the National Register of Voters and ensure that its activities are uniformly implemented across all regions. The APC responded, citing the ADC’s challenges as self-inflicted rather than orchestrated by government influence.
