INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan Faces Resignation Calls Following Discovery of Partisan Social Media Posts

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan faces calls for resignation after resurfaced 2023 posts show support for President Tinubu and the APC.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 4:13 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria.

A Crisis of Institutional Neutrality

The leadership of Nigeria’s primary electoral body is facing a significant integrity challenge as historical social media activity linked to Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has entered the public record. On April 11, 2026, reports surfaced detailing several verified past interactions from Amupitan’s tenure at the University of Jos that indicate a clear preference for the All Progressives Congress. These revelations have sparked a national debate regarding the moral burden placed on the office of the INEC Chairman and whether Amupitan can effectively lead an impartial institution.

The Kperogi Reassessment and Resignation Demands

Prominent Nigerian,American scholar Farooq Kperogi, who previously defended Amupitan’s professional record, has publicly reversed his stance following the emergence of new evidence. Kperogi noted that the Chairman’s past digital engagements were unmistakably partisan, specifically favoring the political trajectory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The professor argued that if Amupitan intends to preserve the credibility of the commission, he should acknowledge these past affiliations and step down from his position to avoid a conflict of interest.

Documented Instances of Partisan Engagement

Digital archives from early 2023 highlight several specific exchanges that have fueled the current controversy. In March 2023, the account linked to Amupitan reportedly responded to a post by APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, who was celebrating an electoral flip in an Igbo,dominated polling unit, with the phrase, "Victory is sure." Additionally, records show a response from April 2023 where the account used the term "Asiwaju" to describe the President, a title heavily associated with loyalist support rather than neutral academic observation.