Forensic Probe Demanded as INEC Chairman Faces Mounting Allegations of Religious Bias and Partisanship

Prof. Joash Amupitan’s tenure as INEC Chair is rocked by allegations of religious bias and partisan tweets, sparking demands for a forensic probe.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 8:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

A Reputation Under Siege: From Legal Scholar to Disputed Umpire

Six months into his tenure, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan finds himself at the center of a credibility crisis that threatens to overshadow the commission’s preparations for future electoral cycles. Critics have begun comparing his early leadership to that of Prof. Maurice Iwu, historically cited as one of Nigeria’s most controversial electoral administrators. The primary source of the current friction stems from archived social media posts and past legal writings that suggest a deep seated religious and political bias, leading to widespread concerns over his ability to remain a neutral arbiter in Nigeria’s complex democratic landscape.

The 'Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter' Controversy

A significant portion of the backlash involves a 2020 legal brief authored by Amupitan titled "Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter." In the 80 page document, Amupitan argued that attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen constituted a targeted genocide against Christians and minority groups. The brief alleged an "Islamization agenda" and cited data from the 2015 Open Doors Report, which recorded the destruction of over 13,000 churches. Amupitan’s recommendation for foreign military intervention or a UN referral to the International Court of Justice has resurfaced as a lightning rod for criticism, with opponents arguing the report ignores the reality that insurgency victims cut across all religious and ethnic lines.

Digital Footprints and Allegations of APC Partisanship

Beyond his academic writings, Amupitan is struggling to distance himself from a digital footprint that critics claim reveals a partisan lean toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Archived posts from the 2023 election cycle show content supportive of the APC and critical of opposition figures. While the Chairman has denied ownership of the X (formerly Twitter) account in question, calling it a parody, researchers have linked the handle to consistent email, phone, and financial records spanning nearly two decades. The sudden restriction and renaming of these accounts have only intensified suspicions of an attempted "digital clean up."