ADC reps caucus demand sack of INEC chairman over alleged partisanship

Victor Ogene, chairman of the caucus, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja following the Caucus’s inaugural meeting, said recent conduct and alleged past statements attributed to the INEC chairman had raised “serious concerns” about his neutrality, warning that public confidence in the electoral body was at risk.

The chairman pointed to allegations that Amupitan had previously expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress on a personal X (formerly Twitter) account, as well as shared content relating to claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Although INEC has denied that the account belongs to its chairman, the Chairman said digital traces and online investigations suggested otherwise, raising questions about transparency and integrity in the leadership of the commission.

“In light of these inconsistencies and concerns regarding impartiality and integrity, we hereby call for his removal from office and advocate for his prosecution,” he said, warning that failure to act could push the country towards “an avoidable descent into undemocratic practices”.

Beyond the controversy surrounding the INEC chairman, the caucus accused the commission of taking steps that could effectively exclude the ADC from participating in upcoming elections.

It alleged that INEC had intervened improperly in the party’s internal affairs by recognising what it described as an illegitimate leadership faction, in contradiction to a previously acknowledged structure led by David Mark,  former Senate President.

According to Ogene, the commission’s actions were fuelling a leadership crisis within the party and undermining its ability to field candidates, a development he described as “ostensibly undemocratic”.

He further alleged collusion between elements within INEC and the judiciary to influence the outcome of an impending court case on the ADC leadership dispute scheduled for April 14.

Ogene claimed that such interference could legitimise what it termed a “discredited faction” and weaken internal party democracy.

Citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the Chairman argued that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party affairs, warning that ongoing legal proceedings on the ADC’s leadership contravene statutory limits and could set a troubling precedent.

The caucus said it had concluded plans to petition the National Judicial Council over what it described as the growing politicisation of the bench, aligning its position with recent concerns raised by Afam Osigwe,  President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Osigwe had criticised what he called the perception of judges as beneficiaries of political patronage, warning that such practices erode public trust in the judiciary.

The Cacus also invoked the legacy of past jurists such as Chukwudifu Oputa, Niki Tobi and Kayode Eso, arguing that the current trajectory of judicial decisions falls short of the standards set even during periods of military rule.

“In recent times, we have witnessed questionable judgments, contradictory interim decisions and what appears to be judicial overreach,” Ogene said, adding that such trends risk weakening democratic institutions.

The ADC lawmakers warned that waning public trust in both the judiciary and electoral authorities could have far-reaching consequences if not urgently addressed. They urged stakeholders, including civil society, the media and legal professionals, to “transcend partisan divisions” and act to safeguard the country’s democratic framework.