INEC Under Fire as ADC Raises Alarm Over Electoral Integrity Ahead of 2027

The caucus of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Monday called for the removal and prosecution of Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing alleged partiality and conduct threatening the credibility of the 2027 presidential election.

The lawmakers, briefing journalists after an inaugural meeting held on April 12, said their concerns about INEC’s credibility were no longer speculative. They pointed to a pattern of “inconsistencies” in Amupitan’s actions, including alleged support for the ruling party using  a social media account on X. Although INEC has denied any connection between the chairman and the account, the ADC caucus insists that independent digital analysis suggests otherwise.

This is not the first time the party has raised concerns about Amupitan’s role. The ADC previously accused him of misinterpreting a Court of Appeal ruling in a way that temporarily undermined the party’s recognition, an action they argue could have jeopardised its participation in upcoming elections. Opposition party members started the #OccupyINEC protests, voicing their concerns. These events are central to a broader argument that the electoral umpire is no longer perceived as neutral by a significant segment of the political class.

This perception matters, especially with national elections less than a year away. Confidence in INEC has been fragile since the 2019 and 2023 election cycles, marred by controversies and suspicions of the close proximity between the commission and the ruling party. The current dispute only deepens that mistrust.

Beyond the immediate controversy, the ADC’s allegations reflect a wider political climate that has grown increasingly lopsided. Over the past year, frequent defections from opposition parties to the APC have become routine, with several governors switching sides. The ruling party is now two Senate seats short from a two-thirds majority. This steady consolidation of power increasingly signals a slow drift toward a one-party system.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence targeting opposition figures and infrastructure have added another layer of concern. Only last month, Peter Obi escaped a violent attack. In the same month, there were two separate attacks involving ADC-linked activities. On March 6, assailants set the party’s secretariat ablaze, injuring several people. Less than two weeks later, a grassroots forum organised by ADC women was disrupted by hoodlums allegedly led by a local APC councillor. These episodes, taken together, reinforce fears that political competition is being shaped not just by policy, but by intimidation.

Legislative developments have not eased those concerns. In February, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Electoral Act that permits electronic transmission of results but making it mandatory. In practice, this means that if connectivity fails, results revert to physical result sheets (specifically INEC Form EC8A). This is more than a technical detail. It preserves and codifies a familiar loophole in Nigeria’s electoral process, one that has historically been exploited to manipulate election outcomes. This amendment was passed despite the #OcupyNASS protests calling for mandatory  electronic transmission of results from polling units.

INEC’s policy decisions have also come under scrutiny. Last month, the commission announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to clean up the register by removing duplicate, underage, or otherwise invalid entries. Joash Amupitan defended the move as necessary to restore confidence in the system. But the proposal quickly drew backlash from the public, opposition parties and civil society groups, who questioned both its timing and its necessity, noting that Permanent Voter Cards are, by definition, not meant to expire.

The ADC, warned that the exercise risked disenfranchising millions of voters and described it as a “last-minute administrative experiment” that could create confusion to the advantage of the ruling party. INEC ultimately postponed the exercise until after the 2027 elections, a decision widely interpreted as a response to mounting public pressure rather than a purely administrative recalibration.

These developments form part of a glaring pattern. The APC’s assertive interference in electoral processes reflects a lack of confidence in its electoral prospects, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction with governance outcomes under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. From this perspective, its preoccupation with electoral rules and institutions is not incidental but central to the political contest ahead.

International observers have also begun to take note. Last year, the European Union warned that Nigeria’s democracy could face a serious strain ahead of the 2027 elections without comprehensive reforms. That warning now feels less abstract. With questions surrounding INEC’s independence, increasing dominance by the ruling party, and a series of policy decisions that leave room for manipulation, concerns about the integrity of the electoral process are no longer confined to opposition rhetoric.

Whether allegations against INEC’s chairman ultimately lead to formal action remains uncertain. What is clearer is the broader implication: the credibility of Nigeria’s next election may depend less on voting mechanics and more on whether the institutions overseeing it can still command public trust.