ABUJA – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), is facing a fresh wave of criticism over the alleged upload of “illegal” names onto the commission’s official portal for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The scandal follows a series of conflicting court rulings regarding the PDP leadership. While the Court of Appeal recently affirmed Ambassador Iliya Damagum as the duly recognized leader and nullified the Turaki faction’s convention, INEC has reportedly uploaded the names of the Wike-backed Caretaker Committee.
The Controversy
Central to the outcry is the inclusion of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. Legal observers and party stakeholders point out that Anyanwu was suspended by a High Court and subsequently expelled from the party. Although Anyanwu has appealed the suspension—effectively confirming that the legal restriction exists—his name remains active on the INEC portal.
Legal Defiance?
Critics are questioning how Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, could oversee a process that appears to ignore a standing court order. The Court of Appeal had previously ruled that the Caretaker Committee was constituted of members who had no legal standing within the party, yet INEC’s digital records continue to reflect their leadership.
“All Eyes on INEC”
The situation has sparked accusations of bias, with many suggesting the commission is being used to validate a faction against the rule of law. By keeping Anyanwu and others on the portal despite their expulsion and the Appeal Court’s clarification on the party’s legitimate leadership, INEC is being accused of creating a “man-made” crisis.
Stakeholders are now waiting to see if Professor Amupitan will rectify the portal entries to reflect the current judicial position or if the commission will remain entangled in the PDP’s internal power struggle.
