The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed calls for the removal of its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, insisting that its recent actions were guided strictly by constitutional provisions and compliance with court orders.
Spokesperson to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, described the demand for the Chairman’s removal as “a distraction” and “a direct assault” on the independence of the electoral body.
The response follows criticism by former Senate President and embattled Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, who accused the Commission of partisanship and declared a loss of confidence in its leadership.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mark called for the immediate removal of the INEC Chairman and national commissioners, alleging that the Commission could no longer be trusted to conduct credible elections.
“We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the national commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” he said.
But INEC, in the statement, insisted that the appointment, tenure and removal of its Chairman and National Commissioners are clearly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, stressing that no political group has the authority to demand such removal outside the prescribed legal framework.
The Commission clarified that its decision to comply with a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal was taken to uphold the rule of law and avoid a repeat of past incidents in Zamfara and Plateau states, where elected officials were sacked due to disobedience of court orders.
According to INEC, it also acted to respect a preservative order restraining it from taking steps that could render ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court ineffective, particularly in relation to disputes within a faction of a political party.
“It is either that INEC obeys the order of the Court of Appeal fully or refuses to obey it,” the statement noted, adding that Section 287(2) of the Constitution mandates all authorities to enforce decisions of the appellate court.
The Commission further rejected allegations of partisanship, noting that under the leadership of Joash O. Amupitan, it has expanded the democratic space with the registration of new political parties, bringing the total number of active parties in the country to 22.
INEC also addressed concerns over its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, describing attempts to politicise the process as misplaced.
It explained that the exercise predates the current leadership and is aimed at sanitising the National Register of Voters, which contains data spanning from 2011 to 2024.
The Commission emphasised that the revalidation is not a fresh registration but an administrative audit designed to verify voter status, eliminate multiple registrations, remove deceased persons and improve the integrity of voter data.
“It is not targeted at any region, party, or demographic. It is a uniform, transparent process that will be conducted nationwide,” INEC stated.
While reaffirming its neutrality, the Commission said it would not interfere in internal party disputes or allow itself to be used as a tool for resolving such conflicts, especially as the courts have already ordered accelerated hearings on the matters.
INEC added that its immediate priority remains the successful conduct of the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states scheduled for June and August 2026, respectively.
While acknowledging that some of its decisions may not align with the interests of all stakeholders, the Commission maintained that its actions are rooted in law and aimed at ensuring credible elections.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency, fairness and the rule of law, insisting that calls for the resignation of its Chairman are unwarranted.
