April 2, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
Fresh controversy has erupted around Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following serious allegations that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, acted under pressure in issuing a contentious statement concerning the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC had earlier announced plans to delist key figures of the party, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, from its official records, citing an ongoing legal dispute over the party’s leadership. The Commission also declared that it would suspend recognition of any faction of the ADC pending the final determination of the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The decision, communicated through a statement by National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna, was said to be based on “preservatory orders” issued by the Court of Appeal.
However, human rights lawyer and former head of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has challenged the integrity of the process, alleging that the INEC Chairman was compelled to act under duress.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Odinkalu claimed that the controversial decision followed a series of high-level meetings involving top officials from INEC, the Presidency, and senior judicial institutions within a short period.
According to him, Amupitan’s appointment as INEC Chairman was allegedly tied to a pre-signed resignation letter held by powerful interests, which could be used as leverage.
“I have it on impeccable authority that there is a pre-signed resignation letter by Chairman Amupitan. It was a pre-condition for his appointment, and the threat of releasing it did the magic,” Odinkalu alleged.
He further criticized INEC’s decision to interpret a ruling of the Court of Appeal, arguing that such responsibility lies solely with the judiciary.
“It should be clear to a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria that it is not the duty of INEC to interpret court judgments. If there was ambiguity, the proper step would have been to seek clarification from the court,” he stated.
The development comes at a critical time as Nigeria begins early preparations for the 2027 general elections, raising concerns over the independence of democratic institutions.
SUNTV Global Channel reports that while the allegations remain unverified, they have sparked intense debate across political and legal circles, with many calling for transparency and safeguards to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
