INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan Faces Resignation Demands Over Partisan Allegations And Controversial Legal Briefs

Professor Joash Amupitan faces calls for resignation as INEC Chairman amid allegations of partisan bias and controversial past legal advocacy in Nigeria.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 10:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Newsdiaryonline

A Legacy of Mistrust and Early Career Turmoil

Six months into his tenure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan finds himself embroiled in a crisis of confidence that threatens his standing as a neutral arbiter. According to Azu Ishiekwene, Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP, Amupitan is currently drawing comparisons to former chairman Professor Maurice Iwu, who was widely criticized for the management of the 2007 elections. The current chairman is struggling with a reputation crisis fueled by archived social media activity that suggests a partisan leaning toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 election cycle.

The Ghost of Digital Footprints and Partisanship

The controversy intensified after scrutiny of Amupitan’s digital history, which reportedly contains supportive content for the ruling party and criticisms of opposition figures. Despite efforts to rename or restrict access to these accounts, the sudden changes have only heightened public suspicion of a hurried attempt to sanitize his record. Ishiekwene notes that while Amupitan has denied ownership of certain accounts or labeled them as parodies, the presence of linked personal data, including email addresses and financial records, makes these denials difficult for the public to accept in a digital age where credibility is paramount.

Controversial Legal Briefs and Religious Narrative

Further complicating Amupitan’s position is an 80-page legal brief titled "Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter," which he authored prior to his appointment. In this document, Amupitan argued that violence involving Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen constituted a genocide against Christians and minority groups, alleging an "Islamisation agenda" responsible for 60,000 deaths since 2001. The brief resurfaced in late 2025, coinciding with the United States designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), sparking a significant backlash for its perceived anti-Muslim slant and its recommendation for UN intervention or foreign military action.