KEY POINTS

• ADC demanded the resignation of INEC chairman Joash Amupitan, accusing the commission of bias and unlawful actions.
• The dispute stems from a leadership crisis within the party and INEC’s withdrawal of recognition of ADC executives.
• The party warned the development could affect upcoming elections and vowed to continue its political activities.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has called for the immediate resignation or removal of Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, accusing the electoral body of partisanship and actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the party’s national chairman, David Mark, said the ADC had lost confidence in the electoral umpire, alleging that recent decisions by the commission were unlawful and amounted to interference in the party’s internal affairs.

Dispute linked to party leadership crisis

Mark said the controversy stemmed from a leadership dispute within the party, noting that the current executives emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, and were duly communicated to INEC. He maintained that the commission had acknowledged the leadership at the time before later withdrawing recognition.

The ADC chairman also dismissed claims by a former party official, Nafiu Bala, who is challenging the leadership. He argued that Bala had resigned months before initiating legal action and accused INEC of creating a false equivalence by treating both factions as legitimate.

The party further alleged that the development was part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Mark accused the administration of Bola Tinubu of attempting to create a political environment that favours the ruling party.

He warned that INEC’s actions could undermine the credibility of upcoming elections, including governorship polls in Osun and Ekiti states, and disrupt the party’s planned congresses and national convention scheduled for April.