The African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in Nigeria's House of Representatives has formally called for the immediate removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan. The lawmakers accuse the electoral chief of partisan conduct and allege he has compromised the independence of the commission.
The call was made in a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Leke Abejide, the leader of the ADC caucus, during a recent plenary session. The motion cited specific instances of alleged bias in the conduct of recent by-elections and the handling of party primaries.
In response, the House has mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to investigate the allegations against Professor Amupitan and report back within four weeks. The Speaker emphasized the need for INEC to maintain absolute neutrality to safeguard Nigeria's democratic process.
Professor Amupitan has not yet issued a public statement addressing the specific allegations from the ADC caucus. INEC, in a general response to previous criticisms, has consistently maintained its commitment to conducting free and fair elections.
