By Omoyeni Ojeifo, Abuja
The clamour for the resignation of INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has ignited a fierce national debate, splitting public opinion on his leadership.
While some insist the law professor has committed no wrongdoing, others argue his exit is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the high-stakes general elections scheduled for early 2027.
Appointed in October 2025 as the successor to Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Amupitan’s brief tenure has already become a lightning rod for concerns over electoral credibility.
The pressure reached a new peak on Monday when Balarabe Rufai, National Youth Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announced the “Operation Occupy INEC” campaign on X.
Under the hashtag #AmupitanMustGo, youth activists are mobilizing to picket INEC offices in Lagos, Ogun, and Jigawa.
This move follows the momentum of the April 8 “Occupy INEC” protest in Abuja, which saw heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso united in their demand for urgent electoral reform.
Since Nigeria’s return to civil rule, leadership of INEC has consistently been determined through presidential appointments with the confirmation of the Senate, a pattern that continues to shape concerns about its independence.
Persecondnews recalls that Justice Ephraim Akpata, who oversaw the 1999 transition elections from military to democracy, was appointed by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.
He was succeeded by Dr. Abel Guobadia, appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also appointed Prof. Maurice Iwu to replace him.
Also, Prof. Attahiru Jega was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan, while Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The current chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2025 to replace Yakubu.
Legal experts remain sharply divided over the calls for Prof. Amupitan’s resignation.
In separate interviews with Persecondnews, some practitioners argued that his appointment is firmly rooted in constitutional law.
However, others contend that true electoral neutrality can only be achieved by stripping the President of the power to appoint the INEC chief.
To this end, Barrister John Ndukauba cited the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Panel, which advocated for a more inclusive and independent selection process to safeguard the commission’s integrity.
“One of the recommendations of the Justice Uwais panel was that the INEC chairman should be thrown open to the public and not left to the discretion of the President. It recommended participation from labour, student unions and the Nigerian Bar Association,” he said.
Suggesting that the current leadership should consider stepping aside, Ndukauba declared: “The current chairman should honourably resign given his past utterances which have exposed his bias.’’
He maintained that neutrality is difficult under the present arrangement.
“An electoral chairman appointed by the incumbent President can never be neutral.’’
Another legal practitioner, Mr. Tunde Fadipe, said the appointment process as initiated by the President is clearly provided for in the 1999 Constitution.
“It is the duty of the Executive, which is the President, to nominate, while the legislature screens and the judiciary provides checks,” he said.
According to him, concerns being raised about transparency is not peculiar to INEC but cut across all arms of government.
“The challenge is that opaqueness exists across the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Ultimately, it depends on the integrity of the individual in office,” Fadipe noted.
Addressing the proposal to make the INEC chairmanship an elective position, legal expert Fadipe cautioned against the move.
He warned that Nigeria’s “highly monetized” political climate would likely compromise such an election, trading one set of problems for another.
Political stakeholders are equally split on the matter.
Alali Ikpoemugh, the ADC’s Coordinator for Electoral Matters in Rivers State, argued that the status quo grants the executive branch excessive leverage over the commission.
“Electoral credibility begins with independence,” Ikpoemugh asserted, “and that must include the process of how the chairman emerges.”
However, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who spoke anonymously, defended the appointment process, insisting that due procedure was followed and describing Amupitan as competent based on his professional record.
“Prof. Amupitan has demonstrated integrity and professionalism in his career. Whether appointed or elected, his experience shows he is fit for the job,” he said.
“Changing the appointment method alone will not solve the problem. What matters is strengthening the system itself,” he added.
To gauge the public pulse, Persecondnews took to the streets of Abuja.
Mazi Ugomax, a businessman in the capital, captured the skepticism of many, arguing that as long as the appointment process remains unchanged, the INEC chairman’s loyalty will inevitably favor those who put him in power.
“As long as the structure remains as it is, the chairman will always feel more beholden to the person who gave him the job than to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Another resident of the FCT, Adebisi Segun, questioned the possibility of neutrality under the current arrangement.
“If I appoint you, you work for me. I don’t see how he can truly serve the public interest under those conditions,” he said.
However, Jane Iheanacho, a civil servant, offered a contrasting view, downplaying the impact of the appointment system.
“The transparency of the process is not really determined by whether it is election or appointment, because it has always been through appointment all along,” she said.
The escalating calls for Amupitan’s exit, coupled with the clash of legal and political opinions, signal a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
This controversy is a symptom of a deeper demand for accountability and systemic reform.
For a skeptical public, the core issue has evolved beyond the politics of appointments; it is now a trial of the system’s ability to safeguard its own independence.
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