The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, following allegations of past political bias.

The party made the demand in response to renewed controversy over alleged old social media posts attributed to the INEC chairman, which critics claim show pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) sentiments.

The allegations were further amplified after a US-based Nigerian scholar, Farooq Kperogi, cited archived posts allegedly linked to Amupitan’s name, suggesting political leaning in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The claims have sparked widespread debate over the neutrality of the electoral commission.

Reacting, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the situation as a serious threat to democratic integrity, insisting that the electoral umpire must not only be independent but also be seen to be beyond suspicion.

“In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion… The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate,” he said.

He further alleged attempts to manipulate or erase digital records linked to the controversy, describing it as an assault on truth and accountability. According to him, such concerns undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The ADC insisted that Prof. Amupitan has fallen below the standards expected of an electoral umpire and demanded his immediate resignation, warning that it would escalate the matter to relevant institutions, including international bodies and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The party also threatened to intensify its actions if the demand is not met, insisting that maintaining the credibility of the electoral system is non-negotiable ahead of future elections.