BOLAJI ABDULLAHI DEMANDS AMUPITAN RESIGNATION OVER ALLEGED PARTISAN POST

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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR

Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called for the immediate resignation of Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing alleged partisan commentary.

Online claims have circulated recently, suggesting that Amupitan maintained a personal account on X and used it to engage with a partisan post. Amupitan, through his chief press secretary (CPS) Adedayo Oketola, responded to the allegation. He described the allegation as entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.

Amupitan, through his chief press secretary (CPS) Adedayo Oketola, responded to the allegation. He described the allegation as entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.

“In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion. He must not only be independent, but he must also be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent. That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections,” the statement reads.

“However, more troubling is the desperate attempt to tamper with digital records, to erase evidence of his previous partisanship. This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability.”

Abdullahi said comments linked to Amupitan indicate he has fallen short of the standard expected of an electoral umpire.

“The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate in a match. This is why Professor Amupitan must resign. Now,” Abdullahi said.

“Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy.”

Abdullahi said the ADC will petition all relevant institutions, including foreign governments and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the alleged partisan post.

“We will also renew and escalate our civil disobedience action until the INEC Chairman leaves office,” he added.