OWN Calls for Immediate Resignation of INEC Chairman

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan

OWN Calls for Immediate Resignation of INEC Chairman

A pressure group, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), has called for the immediate resignation of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of alleged interference in the internal affairs of opposition political parties. The group said the alleged actions threaten political pluralism and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

OWN issued the demand in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Aisha Bello, in Abuja on Tuesday, alleging that INEC under Amupitan’s leadership has repeatedly involved itself in leadership disputes and nomination processes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). According to the group, such conduct violates constitutional limits and compromises the perceived impartiality of the electoral body.

The group pointed to cases of conflicting recognitions of party leadership factions and selective invitations to party meetings, which it said fuel suspicions of deliberate interference designed to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections. OWN emphasized that the credibility of elections depends on the neutrality and independence of INEC and warned that continued overreach by the commission risks tilting the political field in favor of the ruling party.

READ ALSO:

OWN urged opposition parties to resolve internal disputes in line with their constitutions without interference from INEC, describing the continued tenure of the commission’s chairman under current circumstances as untenable. The group also called on civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to press for accountability and restore confidence in the electoral body, insisting that the resignation of Amupitan is necessary for free and fair elections.

However, the demand has faced opposition from legal quarters. Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon, dismissed calls for the INEC chairman’s removal as unconstitutional and misleading, stressing that any removal must follow the procedure outlined in the 1999 Constitution, involving the President and the National Assembly. Hon accused critics of resorting to “cheap blackmail” and warned that pressuring constitutional offices outside legal frameworks threatens democratic stability.

OWN’s call follows previous controversies involving INEC’s perceived partiality. The Supreme Court has, on several occasions, ruled against the commission for overstepping its mandate in opposition party disputes, affirming that political parties have autonomy in internal governance and leadership decisions. Critics say adherence to these rulings is vital for maintaining public trust in the electoral system, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.

The unfolding debate underscores tensions between political actors, civil society groups, and the electoral umpire, highlighting the importance of transparency, impartiality, and adherence to constitutional limits to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process.