…..Threatens NJC Petition Over Alleged Judicial Compromise
By Christiana Ekpa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the removal and prosecution of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, over alleged partiality and inconsistencies in the discharge of his duties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a communiqué issued on Monday, the lawmakers questioned the neutrality of the INEC chairman, citing allegations of partisan conduct linked to a controversial social media account purportedly associated with him.
The caucus made its position known following its inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where it reviewed recent political developments and expressed concerns over what it described as threats to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
According to the caucus, although INEC has denied any connection between Prof. Amupitan and the account on X (formerly Twitter), independent digital investigations allegedly suggest otherwise, raising concerns about his credibility and transparency.
“The integrity of the electoral umpire is critical to the credibility of the electoral process. Any perceived bias or inconsistency at that level poses a grave danger to democracy,” the statement read.
The lawmakers further alleged that INEC, under Amupitan’s leadership, has taken actions capable of undermining the ADC’s participation in forthcoming elections, particularly through what they described as interference in the party’s internal leadership structure.
They accused the commission of recognising a faction they termed illegitimate, contrary to a leadership reportedly led by Senator David Mark, which they claim had earlier met INEC’s requirements and received formal acknowledgment.
The caucus also raised concerns over what it described as a growing pattern of collaboration between certain judicial officers and electoral authorities to influence the outcome of pending litigation concerning the party’s leadership crisis.
It referenced a case scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, warning that any attempt to manipulate judicial proceedings would further erode public confidence in the democratic system.
Citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the lawmakers argued that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party affairs, insisting that any contrary judicial intervention would amount to a violation of the law.
Beyond the electoral body, the caucus expressed deep concern over alleged compromise within the judiciary, vowing to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate politically exposed judicial officers.
The lawmakers aligned with recent remarks by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), who had warned against practices capable of undermining judicial independence, including the alleged gifting of vehicles to judges by politicians.
They warned that declining public trust in both the judiciary and electoral institutions poses an existential threat to Nigeria’s democracy, urging stakeholders across sectors to rise above partisan interests in defence of democratic values.
The caucus concluded by stressing that INEC must not only operate as an independent body in principle but must also demonstrate impartiality, transparency, and credibility in practice to restore public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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