The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a fresh firestorm as activist Omotayo Williams calls for the immediate resignation or removal of Chairman Joash Amupitan, citing clear incompetence and a total failure to remain neutral. In a blistering statement released today, April 2, 2026, Williams accused the electoral umpire of abandoning its independence to act as a “stooge and operating arm” of the ruling All All Progressives Congress (APC).
The primary trigger for this demand is INEC’s controversial move to derecognize key figures within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including political heavyweights David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola. This decision, made in the heat of an ongoing court dispute, has sparked fears that the commission is being weaponized to destabilize opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Williams argues that by stripping these leaders of their recognition without due process, INEC has already failed in a process just started and completely lost the trust of the Nigerian people.
This call for Amupitan’s exit comes against a grim backdrop of national insecurity. Williams pointed to the recent wave of violence—including the killing of over 34 people in Kebbi, 50 in Adamawa, and several others in Jos—as proof that Nigeria cannot afford a compromised electoral body. He maintains that the role of INEC is critical in safeguarding democracy and enabling citizens to hold leadership accountable, yet recent actions suggest a troubling departure from this responsibility.
Williams concluded his demand with a three-point ultimatum: the immediate exit of Joash Amupitan from office, a full public explanation for the decisions regarding the ADC leadership, and an independent investigation into the Chairman’s recent actions to determine the extent of partisan interference. As the 2027 election cycle begins to heat up, the pressure on the Abuja headquarters is reaching a boiling point. Whether Amupitan survives this wave of condemnation remains to be seen, but for Williams and his supporters, the verdict is in: Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, and the umpire is part of the problem.
