Olushola Omogbehin
Following the call by African Democratic Congress, ADC for the removal of the boss of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the commission has reacted given reasons why Prof. Joash Amupitan should not resign.
The call for the resignation of Amupitan was made by the national Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark during a World Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The reason behind the call for resignation was the Commission decision to remove the name of the party’s leaders from its portal which it terms as obedience to Court of Appeal Judgment.
INEC on Wednesday announced its decision to delist key ADC figures, including National Chairman David Mark, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and others.
INEC has thereafter come under serious criticism, sequel to the derecognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress on Wednesday.
ADC top leaders on Thursday criticised the electoral umpire and accusing it of acting under the influence of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.
As a result, they called for the immediate removal of the Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, ADC said the delisting of its leaders was a calculated plot to impose a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress of using the electoral umpire to weaken opposition parties.
He stated, “The agenda is very clear: To create a situation where, in 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges as the only option left for the people, despite the widespread suffering and wanton killings going on across the country.
Mark noted that their decision to join the ADC was deliberate, pointing out that they carried out thorough due diligence.
Listen to Mark: “In furtherance of this process, a NEC meeting was convened on July 29th, 2025, monitored by INEC officials. One of the conclusions of that NEC meeting was the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party and the ratification of a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party, with my humble self, David Mark, as the national chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the national secretary; as well as others who have since been serving as officers of the party.
“In addition to witnessing this process that brought in the new leadership of the party, a formal report of these resolutions was subsequently communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission. On September 9th, 2025, INEC then uploaded the names of the relevant NWC members of the party, based on the NEC resolutions.’’
Mark said, “One of the officials in the dissolved NWC was Nafiu Bala, who was one of the deputy national chairmen of the party. It is on record that Gombe resigned from this position on 17th May, 2025.
‘’His resignation was also duly transmitted to INEC on the 12th of August, 2025. Regardless of his resignation, he decided to approach the courts on September 2nd, 2025, four clear months after his resignation, seeking to be recognised as the chairman of the ADC.’’
He said by September 2, when Bala went to court, INEC was already aware of the July 29 inauguration of the party’s leadership and Gombe’s prior resignation.
While the case was ongoing according to Mark, their lawyers challenged the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and directed all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
Accusing INEC of acting in contempt of the Court of Appeal and describing the move as a direct attack on Nigeria’s democracy and on citizens’ rights to choose, participate, and freely exercise their civic freedoms, Mark said:
“It is important to state the net implications of this decision taken by INEC, in case they had not thought of it, or they just do not care: First, by attempting to subvert the leadership of the ADC, INEC has already undermined our participation in the Osun and Ekiti elections taking place later this year.
“Secondly, we have our congresses starting on the 9th of April, 2026, ending with our convention on the 14th of April, 2026. We have given due notice to INEC, and they have acknowledged receipt of that notice. This is what the law requires of us.
‘’Let us sound a note of warning. This INEC under Professor Joash Amupitan will be held directly responsible for whatever actions or reactions that follow this criminal path that it has chosen to take.’’
Reacting in a statement signed by Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the appointment, tenure, and removal of the Chairman and National Commissioners are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The Chairman does not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group. Any call for removal outside the established constitutional process is not only a distraction but a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire,” it said.
“While a political party or a group is allowed to protect their interest, the Commission decided to comply with the Judgment of the Court of Appeal to avert a situation that occurred in Zamfara State and Plateau State where elected officials were removed by the Election Tribunal on account of the disobedience of Court Judgment.
“In addition, the Commission did not want to disobey the preservative order of the court not to do anything or take any step that would render the processes already filed at the Federal High Court nugatory.
“Proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC would amount to a disobedience of that order since the relief claimed in the Originating Summons and other court processes filed include an order restraining INEC from monitoring any meeting, congress and convention of the party.
“Additionally, it was only on the 9th of September 2025 that INEC accepted and approved David Mark’s Exco, which was seven days after the matter was filed at the Federal High Court.
“The order to maintain status quo ante bellum means the position of the parties before the beginning of hostilities. It is either that INEC obey the order of the Court of Appeal fully or refuse to obey it. Section 287(2) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 mandates every person and authority in Nigeria not only to obey the Judgment of the Court of Appeal but also to enforce such Judgment.
“Far from undermining the multi-party system, the Commission under Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has actively expanded the democratic space. The recent registration and recognition of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and National Democratic Party (NDP), bringing the total number of active political parties to 22, is an empirical rebuttal to any claim of a one-party agenda. INEC remains a neutral regulator, not a participant in political competition.
“The Commission’s updates to party leadership records are strictly anchored on compliance with subsisting court orders and statutory requirements under the Electoral Act 2026.
“INEC will not be drawn into the internal strife within political parties, nor will it allow itself to be used as a proxy for resolving organisational challenges that belong to the parties themselves, especially when the Court of Appeal has ordered that the matter be granted accelerated hearing.”
The Commission also said that it has noticed an attempt to politicise the planned nationwide Voter Revalidation exercise.
“The decision to revalidate the Voters Register pre-dates the appointment of Professor Amupitan. The proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise is a professional necessity to strengthen the integrity of the National Register of Voters. The current register includes data spanning from 2011 to 2024. This exercise is designed to sanitise the register and is to be executed in phases,” it added.
“The revalidation is intended to confirm the status of registered voters, address issues arising from transfers, multiple registrations and deceased persons, and enhance the reliability of voter data in Nigeria. It is an administrative audit, not a fresh registration.
“It is not targeted at any region, party, or demographic. It is a uniform, transparent process that will be conducted across all Local Government Areas and Polling Units, with robust digital options for ease of access. All the stakeholders will be carried along on this issue.
“The Commission is currently focused on the surgical precision required for the forthcoming Ekiti (June 2026) and Osun (August 2026) off-cycle elections. We will not be distracted by unfounded allegations of collusion or bias. Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people.
“The Commission understands that some decisions can be challenging and may not always align with individual party interests. However, the Commission is dedicated to fostering an electoral environment where transparency and fairness prevail.
“The decisions taken by INEC are based on thorough evaluations and aligned with the legal framework that governs our operations including adherence to the Rule of Law. They are intended to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, which ultimately serve the interests of all stakeholders within our democracy, rather than specific political entities.”
Cautioning INEC also is the Inter-Party Advisory Council, which expressed deep concern over the handling of the leadership crisis rocking the ADC, warning that missteps could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
IPAC raised objections to the proposed Nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise, citing risks of voter disenfranchisement and systemic strain on political parties.
This was disclosed by IPAC’s National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, in a statement issued in Abuja.
He urged the electoral INEC to tread carefully in addressing internal disputes within political parties.
“IPAC calls on INEC to exercise caution in handling the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress. In cases of internal party disagreements, it must be clearly understood that leadership structures, even when contested, do not amount to a vacuum.
“IPAC therefore urges INEC to act with restraint, fairness and strict adherence to due process in resolving intra-party issues.”
Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) also decried INEC’s decision, alleging bias against the ADC and other opposition parties.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, warned on Thursday that such actions could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
It said, “With recent political events, which are clear orchestrations and manipulations against opposition political parties, the political temperature of the country has been unnecessarily raised to near-fever levels. Society, like the human body, either breaks down or adjusts when subjected to fever.
