By Yinka Giwa
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), a coalition of prominent Nigerian public figures and civic advocates, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to resign immediately over allegations of partisanship, insisting he no longer commands the neutrality required to oversee the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Media Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema, the group said Professor Amupitan should step aside to allow for what it described as a credible, independent, and transparent investigation into claims linking him to partisan political expressions.
The MCE includes notable figures such as Femi Falana (SAN), Pat Utomi, Oby Ezekwesili, Usman Bugaje, Ayuba Wabba, Hadjia Dr Bilikisu Magoro, and Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, among others.
According to the group, the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process is at risk if the leadership of INEC is not perceived as impartial. It stressed that the integrity of the commission must remain above reproach, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
“The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process is at stake,” the statement read. “At this critical juncture in the nation’s democratic evolution, the leadership of INEC must be beyond reproach.”
The MCE pointed to what it described as “digital footprints” allegedly linking the INEC chairman to expressions sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the development has triggered widespread public concern and a growing crisis of confidence.
Although Professor Amupitan has denied the allegations, the group argued that such denials are insufficient in an era of sophisticated digital verification tools. It maintained that the situation demands a thorough forensic investigation to establish the facts.
“In this digital age, denial is not a defence—it is an invitation to forensic scrutiny,” the statement added.
The coalition further urged the Federal Government to constitute an impartial investigative panel comprising judicial officers, digital forensic experts, and civil society representatives. It also called for an immediate halt to any form of intimidation or harassment directed at individuals raising concerns about the issue.
Warning of potential escalation, the group noted that the controversy could develop into a legal crisis, given the traceability of digital identities through systems such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN), as well as device-level access logs maintained by online platforms.
It cautioned against attempts to criminalise dissent or frame public scrutiny as cybercrime, describing such actions as a misuse of state power that could further undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
Beyond the immediate allegations, the MCE expressed broader concerns over what it described as a pattern of decisions by INEC that appear to disadvantage opposition participation, including claims of selective enforcement of electoral regulations.
According to the group, these developments risk pushing Nigeria towards a de facto one-party state, in contradiction to the principles of constitutional democracy.
The coalition also warned of possible international ramifications, noting that aggrieved parties could seek redress at regional judicial bodies such as the ECOWAS Court of Justice, potentially exposing Nigeria to reputational damage and sanctions.
It concluded that the allegations, if substantiated, raise serious ethical questions about the INEC chairman’s neutrality and fitness to remain in office.
“The only honourable course is for the INEC Chairman to step aside and allow a transparent investigation,” the statement said. “Nigeria stands at a democratic crossroads. The credibility of its electoral body is central to national stability and the legitimacy of governance.”