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Abuja, Nigeria — September 16, 2026

The Obidient Movement, a political group aligned with NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanded immediate clarification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the whereabouts of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, after he was absent from a high-profile meeting with an African Union election delegation — a query INEC moved to resolve the same day, confirming the chairman was away on official assignment.

The demand

In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the Obidient Movement said the call for clarity followed an INEC post on X on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, which identified National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus as Acting Chairman representing Amupitan at a meeting with the African Union’s Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission at INEC headquarters in Abuja. The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, was in Nigeria assessing the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The movement said it was unaware of any official communication announcing that Amupitan had formally handed over his responsibilities to Gumus, in either an acting or substantive capacity, and argued this raised legitimate questions about his location, schedule, and the circumstances of his absence. “As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman cannot operate in secrecy,” Tanko said, adding that the era of the INEC chairman “having strategy meetings with the APC and the ruling party must be a thing of the past.”

The group asked INEC to publicly clarify five specific points: where Amupitan currently is; when he left Abuja and for what purpose; who authorised his absence; what meetings or engagements he has held since leaving, including any travel abroad; and whether he has met or is scheduled to meet President Bola Tinubu, the APC’s national chairman, or any representative of the ruling party. The movement also referenced what it described as Amupitan’s “antecedents and strong affection for the APC,” and said INEC’s leadership must be, and be seen to be, transparent and non-partisan.

INEC’s response

INEC broke its silence on the matter the same day. Speaking to reporters, the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said Amupitan was away from Abuja on official assignment and had lawfully delegated his powers, as permitted, to a National Commissioner in his absence. “The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said, adding that Amupitan had attended a conference, spoken there, and held meetings during the trip.

Amupitan was nominated by President Tinubu, presented to the National Council of State in October 2025, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in as INEC Chairman on October 23, 2025.