Call for Removal: Utomi, Falana, and Several Others Urge INEC Chairman Amupitan to Step Down Amid Alleged Collaboration

The Movement for Credible Elections is urging Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, to resign with immediate effect due to allegations of partisanship, which have compromised his ability to oversee the 2027 general elections with credibility.

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The group, comprising notable figures such as Dr Usman Bugaje, Barrister Femi Falana, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Professor Pat Utomi, Hadjia Dr Bilikisu Magoro, and Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, emphasizes that the integrity of the electoral body must be preserved at all costs.

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In a statement released on Sunday by its Media Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema, the MCE called upon Professor Amupitan to step down and allow for an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations against him, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

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The MCE is also calling on the Federal Government to establish an impartial panel consisting of judicial officers, digital forensic experts, and civil society representatives to investigate the allegations and determine the truth, while also demanding an end to the intimidation and harassment of citizens who raise concerns.

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The integrity of Nigeria's electoral process is under threat, according to the MCE, which stresses that the leadership of INEC must be beyond reproach, particularly at this critical juncture in the nation's democratic evolution.

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Recent developments, including alleged digital footprints linking Professor Amupitan to partisan expressions sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress, have triggered a crisis of confidence, prompting the MCE to take a strong stance on the matter.

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Although Professor Amupitan has denied the allegations, the MCE insists that such denials are insufficient in the era of advanced digital forensics and instead highlight the need for thorough verification and scrutiny.

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The group notes that in the digital age, denial is not a viable defense, but rather an invitation to forensic scrutiny, which must be conducted to ascertain the truth and maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

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The controversy surrounding Professor Amupitan's alleged partisanship could escalate into a legal crisis, according to the MCE, which cites the traceability of digital identities through systems such as the Bank Verification Number and National Identification Number, as well as device-level access logs maintained by digital platforms.

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Attempts to frame public scrutiny as cybercrime or to threaten critics with arrest amount to a misuse of state apparatus, the MCE warns, and could further erode public trust in the electoral process.

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Beyond the immediate allegations, the group expresses concern over a pattern of decisions by INEC that appear to undermine opposition participation, including alleged selective enforcement of electoral regulations, which could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria's democratic system.

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Such developments risk steering Nigeria towards a de facto one-party state, in violation of constitutional democracy, and the MCE warns that this could have severe repercussions for the country's democratic evolution.

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The MCE also raises concerns about potential international repercussions, noting that aggrieved parties could seek redress at regional bodies such as the ECOWAS Court, exposing Nigeria to reputational damage and possible sanctions.

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The allegations against Professor Amupitan, if proven, raise serious ethical questions about his neutrality and fitness for office, and the MCE maintains that the only honourable course of action is for him to step aside and allow a transparent investigation to take place.

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Nigeria stands at a democratic crossroads, and the credibility of its electoral body is central to national stability and the legitimacy of governance, the MCE emphasizes, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the crisis of confidence surrounding INEC.