The African Democratic Congress has issued a strong call for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. At a world press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, declared that the commission under Professor Joash Amupitan has lost all credibility and can no longer be trusted to conduct free, fair, and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Senator Mark accused the electoral body of clear partisanship and unlawful interference in the internal affairs of political parties. He specifically pointed to recent actions by INEC regarding the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, describing them as biased and designed to undermine democratic principles. The party further alleged that the commission appears to be working in favor of the ruling party, thereby threatening the integrity of the entire electoral process in Nigeria.
The African Democratic Congress maintained that such conduct has eroded public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission. According to the party, the chairman and all national commissioners have compromised their neutrality, making it impossible for them to oversee impartial elections. Senator Mark therefore demanded the immediate resignation or outright sack of Professor Joash Amupitan and every national commissioner serving under him. He warned that failure to step down voluntarily could lead to their removal through appropriate constitutional channels.
This development comes amid ongoing leadership disputes in the African Democratic Congress, where INEC’s decisions on party recognition have sparked widespread controversy. The party insists that the electoral umpire must remain independent and refrain from taking sides in internal party matters. Stakeholders have expressed concern that continued loss of trust in the commission could destabilize preparations for future elections and weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The African Democratic Congress urged all well meaning Nigerians and democratic stakeholders to support the call for accountability at the helm of the Independent National Electoral Commission. The party emphasized that only leaders with unquestionable integrity should oversee the nation’s electoral process, especially as the country approaches another critical election cycle.
