The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed calls for the removal of its chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, while addressing what it described as widespread misconceptions surrounding its proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
In a statement issued Thursday night in Abuja, and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission said it had taken note of “recent public statements by political actors alleging partisan bias and calling for the removal of the Chairman” following its decision to comply with a recent Court of Appeal judgment.
INEC acknowledged the right of stakeholders to express their opinions but emphasised that its leadership structure and operations are firmly grounded in the Constitution.
“It is imperative to clarify that INEC is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The appointment, tenure, and removal of the Chairman and National Commissioners are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” the statement read.
The Commission stressed that its chairman does not serve at the discretion of any political party or interest group, warning that calls for removal outside constitutional provisions constitute “a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire.”
Explaining its decision to comply with the Court of Appeal ruling, INEC said the move was necessary to avoid a recurrence of past situations in states such as Zamfara and Plateau, where elected officials lost their positions due to the disobedience of court judgments.
According to the Commission, its actions were also guided by a preservative order aimed at ensuring that ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court are not undermined.
INEC noted that monitoring activities linked to the faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) associated with David Mark could amount to a violation of that court order.
The Commission further disclosed that it had, on September 9, 2025, approved the executive committee led by David Mark—seven days after the matter had already been filed at the Federal High Court.
Reaffirming the binding nature of appellate court decisions, INEC cited Section 287(2) of the Constitution, which mandates all authorities and persons in Nigeria to obey and enforce judgments of the Court of Appeal.
“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,” the statement added.
INEC concluded by reiterating that calls for the resignation of Professor Amupitan are “out of place,” insisting that its actions remain guided strictly by constitutional and legal provisions.
