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The party specifically faulted the Chairman for allegedly assuming the role of interpreting judicial pronouncements, a responsibility it insisted rests solely with the judiciary.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the immediate resignation or removal of its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisan conduct, gross misconduct, and constitutional breaches.
The petition, dated April 8, 2026, was submitted through the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and received at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja at about 11:29 a.m., according to a copy obtained by SaharaReporters.
In the strongly worded document, the ADC accused the INEC Chairman of undermining the neutrality of the electoral body through recent public statements and actions which it described as “disgraceful and unbecoming” of the office.
“We write to convey our strongest condemnation of your recent actions and public statements, which have further deepened concerns about your fitness to continue in office,” the petition read.
The party specifically faulted the Chairman for allegedly assuming the role of interpreting judicial pronouncements, a responsibility it insisted rests solely with the judiciary.
“The interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive preserve of the Judiciary,” the ADC stated. “For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers.”
The ADC further alleged that INEC, under the current leadership, has abandoned its constitutional duty of neutrality and instead aligned itself with “factional interests,” a development it warned could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
According to the petition, the controversy is linked to internal party disputes, including a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where a National Working Committee (NWC) was dissolved. The party argued that INEC’s subsequent actions and correspondence suggested bias and institutional overreach.
“It is not the role of INEC to act as a court of law or an advocate,” the party stated. “Its duty is clear: to operate strictly within the bounds of the Constitution with absolute neutrality and professionalism.”
The ADC warned that the alleged conduct poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and called for urgent action to restore the integrity of the electoral body.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS
