Calls for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan have intensified as opposition parties allege bias towards the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The demand was contained in a communiqué signed by several opposition leaders and read by the factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, at a summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.
The opposition political parties had called for the immediate Amupitan‘s resignation, over allegations of partisanship in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
They argued that the INEC chairman should not preside over the 2027 polls, insisting that public confidence in his neutrality had been eroded.
“That INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, having shown biased and open partisanship in favour of the ruling APC should not conduct the 2027 general elections as Nigerians have lost confidence in him and his capacity to guarantee the required neutrality required to deliver a free, fair, transparent and credible election”, Turaki said.
Amupitan had recently come under public scrutiny following social media screenshots on X allegedly linking him to posts showing support for President Bola Tinubu after the 2023 election declaration.
Although the INEC chairman has denied the allegations, insisting the claims were fabricated to damage his reputation, the controversy has continued to generate political debate.
Turaki warned that retaining Amupitan in office could heighten political tension and potentially trigger unrest.
He said, “His continued stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering crisis in our nation”.
The opposition also accused INEC of introducing guidelines that could disadvantage political parties, calling for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to July 2026.
“That we consider the recent guidelines released by INEC as obstacles deliberately engineered as conditions and deadlines against opposition parties. We therefore demand that INEC extends the deadline for primaries till the end of July 2026”, he added.
