KANO, NIGERIA — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been hit by a major internal tremor as Hon. Hassan Indabawa, a heavyweight party stakeholder in Kano, issued a blunt ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu: Sack the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), or face a total electoral disaster.
In a move that has jolted the party’s leadership, Indabawa—popularly known as Hassan Bawa—declared that Amupitan’s continued stay in office is a “ticking time bomb” for the APC’s survival, particularly in the North.
“A Great Liability”
Speaking on the heels of growing friction within the party, Bawa did not mince words, describing the appointment of the Kogi-born legal luminary as a direct provocation.
“The appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman is an insult to Nigerian Muslims,” Bawa fired off in a statement that has since gone viral among party faithful. “If Tinubu does not remove him, it will lead to the downfall of the party, because currently, Amupitan is a great liability to the APC.”
The outburst centers on allegations that Amupitan’s past professional record and legal briefs on sensitive religious issues make him a compromised figure who cannot be trusted to mid-wife the 2027 general elections.
Storm Clouds Gathering
This internal revolt adds to a mounting pile of headaches for the electoral umpire. Just this week, INEC was forced into a defensive crouch, issuing a frantic disclaimer over a fake X (Twitter) account that had been using the Chairman’s name to push partisan agendas.
While the Commission insists Amupitan is being targeted by “mischief makers,” the political damage in grassroots strongholds like Kano appears to be spreading. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has already joined the fray, demanding Amupitan’s head over claims that INEC is meddling in party affairs.
Regional Tensions
Political analysts say Bawa’s comments reflect a deeper anxiety within the APC’s Northern wing. With Kano serving as the ultimate “vote bank” in national elections, any perception of a religious or regional imbalance at the helm of INEC could alienate millions of voters before the first ballot is even cast.
While groups like the Okun Development Association have come out swinging in defense of the Chairman’s integrity, the pressure from within the President’s own house may be the hardest to ignore.
As of press time, the Presidency has remained silent on the ultimatum, but insiders suggest that the “Kano Signal” has caused significant unease at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
