The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that his loyalty lies exclusively with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, dismissing allegations that he is sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Amupitan gave the assurance amid growing public scrutiny of INEC’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the commission would not serve the interests of any political party.
He spoke on Thursday, November 12, at a high-level dialogue on Nigeria’s 2027 elections, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
Responding to allegations of partisan bias, the INEC chairman specifically denied ownership of an X account allegedly linked to him, which reportedly published a pro-APC message during the 2023 general elections.
He described the account as a case of digital impersonation, saying he had obtained an independent forensic review and referred the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.
“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” Amupitan declared.
He stressed that all constitutional institutions, including the Presidency, National Assembly and state governments, must operate within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law.
The INEC chairman also acknowledged that the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election significantly damaged public confidence in the electoral commission.
According to him, the commission has yet to fully recover from the credibility crisis generated by the disputed electoral process.
He said subsequent off-cycle elections, including those conducted in Anambra and Osun states, had provided opportunities for INEC to improve its operations and rebuild public trust.
Amupitan noted that INEC had introduced additional validation mechanisms to prevent inaccurate figures and results arising from over-voting from being uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He explained that the safeguards were part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the electronic results management system and prevent a recurrence of the problems associated with the 2023 elections.
The chairman urged Nigerians to give the commission an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to credible elections, assuring that lessons from previous electoral exercises were being incorporated into preparations for 2027.
His declaration comes against the backdrop of heightened political activities and persistent concerns among opposition parties and civil society groups about the independence and impartiality of electoral institutions.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, INEC’s ability to translate its assurances into transparent and verifiable electoral outcomes is expected to remain a major test of public confidence.