ADC demands Amupitan’s exit, vows civil disobedience as social media controversy deepens

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified pressure on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan, demanding his immediate resignation over allegations linking him to partisan social media posts in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The demand follows a deepening controversy surrounding an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly associated with Amupitan, which made pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) comments during the 2023 general election cycle. One of the posts, now widely circulated, responded to an APC victory claim with the phrase “victory is sure,” a remark critics say signals clear political alignment.

Others include those dismissing the supporters of Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate as as ‘evil in the 24th century,” and another hailing Tinubu as “Asiwaju.”

Although the post was swiftly deleted after resurfacing online, its digital footprint has continued to fuel widespread debate, raising questions about the neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the revelations as “deeply disturbing” and a direct threat to public confidence in the electoral process.

“In a democracy, the umpire must not only be independent but must also be seen to be independent beyond any reasonable doubt,” Abdullahi said. “The emergence of a pro-Tinubu post allegedly linked to the INEC chairman is a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system.”

The party argued that the controversy goes beyond a single social media post, pointing to what it described as a pattern of troubling developments under Amupitan’s leadership. These include INEC’s controversial intervention in the ADC’s internal leadership dispute, as well as earlier policy proposals such as voter revalidation, which critics feared could disenfranchise millions.

The ADC further alleged that attempts were made to alter or obscure digital records linked to the account, a move it described as “a calculated assault on truth and accountability.”

“A man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions,” the party said, insisting that Amupitan’s continued stay in office would erode the credibility of future elections.

Adding to the pressure are open-source intelligence (OSINT) claims circulating online, which allege that the disputed account is linked to an email address and phone number associated with Amupitan. Though these claims have not been independently verified, they have amplified public scrutiny and skepticism.

INEC has, however, firmly denied the allegations. In a statement issued by the chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the commission described the claims as “entirely baseless” and attributed them to impersonation and cybercriminal activity.

“The INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan commentary,” the statement read, warning that those behind the alleged misinformation would be tracked and prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Act.

Despite the denial, the ADC insists the burden of proof lies with the INEC chairman, arguing that the credibility of the electoral body is too important to be clouded by unresolved allegations.

“This is why Professor Amupitan must resign. Now. Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” the party declared.

Beyond its call for resignation, the ADC said it would escalate its response by updating petitions to key institutions, including foreign governments and the Nigerian Bar Association. It also vowed to intensify civil disobedience actions until Amupitan steps down.