Davidson Iriekpen writes that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has been involved in a number of scandals, the most recent of which involves accusations of bias. This has raised concerns about the commission’s neutrality as the 2027 general election approaches.

Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been in the news a lot in the past seven weeks. People are suspicious of all of his actions and inactions, whether it’s fixing the 2027 election during Ramadan, pushing to revalidate permanent voter cards that many thought could disenfranchise millions, or intervening in the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) internal crisis.

His problems started last year, right after he was appointed. At the time, the United States declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) because of the genocide against Christians. His legal brief, which was published in 2020 and called “Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter: Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community,” said that attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen were genocide against Christians and minority groups in Nigeria.

Many Muslim groups in the country accused President Bola Tinubu of bias and called for him to withdraw his nomination. They also called for the National Assembly to refuse to confirm him.

After that, there were false claims that he worked on the legal team for President Tinubu or the All Progressives Party (APC), which were proven to be false.

A new accusation has come to light that ties him to pro-APC activity during the 2023 general election. This raises more questions about the commission’s neutrality before the 2027 general election.

The argument, which started on April 10, 2026, was about claims that an X account, which was said to be linked to him, posted partisan content in support of the APC during the 2023 general election.

The report said that open-source intelligence (OSINT) found a Yahoo email address and a phone number that matched the one on Amupitan’s public University of Jos CV. This email address and phone number were linked to an X (formerly Twitter) account that posted “Victory is sure” in response to a tweet by Dayo Israel, who was the APC National Youth Leader at the time, on March 18, 2023.

Israel’s post was about how the APC won a polling unit in an area with a lot of Igbo people during the 2023 elections. Amupitan’s supposed response was shown as clear proof of partisan alignment, even though the INEC Chairman has repeatedly said that he is not political.

Screenshots of the conversation have been widely shared, and there are signs that the account was later renamed or made private, which has led to even more scrutiny of the supposed digital trail.

But as soon as the claim came out, INEC denied it completely, calling it “entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.”

The commission said again that Prof. Amupitan does not own or run any accounts on X and has never been involved in politics. It also called the claims part of a “malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny” meant to make people lose faith in the electoral body.

The electoral umpire also said that cybercriminals often make fake accounts in the names of public officials. It is working with security agencies to find out who is behind these crimes.

Even though he denied it, the discovery of his alleged personal email and phone number links to his OPay account has made the situation much worse, with opposition leaders calling for his resignation.

Some people have also said that he wasn’t the chairman of INEC when he supposedly tweeted, while others thought that the tweet showed he was biased.

The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), on the other hand, called for his immediate resignation because they thought he was biased. They said that the claim that he was linked to a pro-Tinubu tweet was not only disturbing, but also a serious attack on the integrity of the electoral system.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said in a statement, “In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion.” He needs to be independent, and people should be able to see that he is independent beyond a reasonable doubt. That is the least that anyone who is given the important job of running free and fair elections should be able to do.

“However, what is even more worrying is the desperate attempt to change digital records to hide proof of his past political bias.” This isn’t a small thing. It is a planned attack on honesty and responsibility. You can’t trust a man who changes records to protect himself to protect the rights of millions.

Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate for president in 2023, on the other hand, has a different view. He said that even if it could be proven that the account belonged to Amupitan, it would not automatically make him ineligible to hold office under the law.

“You can’t be a member of a political party when you get the job.” It doesn’t mean you couldn’t have been a member before or that you didn’t vote. He said, “Someone who voted in 2023 can still be the INEC chairman in 2025.”

If it turned out that the account really did belong to the INEC chair, Adebayo said that the issue of integrity would be very important.

But Gbenga Sesan, a technology expert, questioned INEC’s outright denial that the chairman ever had an X account and called for more investigation. He said that digital archiving tools show that there used to be an account with Amupitan’s name on it.

The tech expert also said that to make a social media account, you usually need to have a registered email address or phone number. This suggests that these links could help prove ownership. He said that INEC’s response was unhelpful and criticized it.

“To be honest, you can’t open an account with someone’s email or phone number unless you can see the verification messages they get. INEC’s denial doesn’t hold up, and that’s too bad. Sesan said, “When institutions quickly dismiss problems, they often get more people interested.”

Comrade IG Wala, a lawyer, said that publicly denying ownership of certain digital assets could make him criminally liable for perjury and abuse of state power.

The author said that public space had already found connections between the account in question and Amupitan’s personal email, phone number, and an OPay account.

Wala also said that banks like OPay have to follow strict Know Your Customer (KYC) rules.

He said that if a subpoena is issued, giving the BVN and NIN used to verify that account would be proof of ownership that can’t be denied.

He then warned against the strategy of denial, along with reported threats to arrest people who were drawing attention to supposed digital links. This could turn the situation from a reputational issue into a full-blown criminal case.

Amupitan should understand that the position of INEC Chairman is not just a public office; it is important in a democracy as these claims fade away. This is especially true in Nigeria, where elections are always full of scandals and claims of cheating. People he was hired to serve will keep looking at his past and present records, which is not unusual.

So, he should see all the calls for him to step down from different groups, like opposition parties and civil society, as nothing more than a demand for accountability.

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Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, has welcomed Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma students who were recently freed after being detained in connection with the Ekpoma protest.

Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Monday Okpebholo’s chief press secretary, said in a statement on Thursday that the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the institution while cautioning against violence.

AAU students, government representatives, and other important stakeholders attended the governor’s speech at a stakeholders’ engagement in the Banquet Hall of Government House in Benin City.

Speaking to the crowd, Okpebholo expressed his deep sadness about the protest’s violent turn, especially considering his long-standing dedication to repositioning Ambrose Alli University.

“When I realized what was going on in my place, I was in excruciating pain. The governor stated, “I promised to revitalize Ambrose Alli University the day I took office.

He described the finance mechanism he encountered on the ground as unsustainable and criticized it.

“They were spending ₦41 million on salaries, printing, water, light bills, and other expenses, and ₦41 million is insufficient for anything. However, under the previous administration, one consultant received ₦59 million, while the entire university community received ₦41 million, he continued.

Governor Okpebholo disclosed that as soon as he took office, his administration raised AAU’s monthly subsidy from ₦41 million to ₦500 million.

He stated, “Since then, it has been about how to revive the school, how to move the school forward, and how to reposition it again.”

Additionally, he revealed that there were approximately ₦41 billion in unpaid salary and wage arrears owed to AAU employees. He assured them that arrangements were being made to eventually balance the debt.

The governor advised students to put their studies first and warned them not to let criminal groups utilize them.

“He protests after someone claims he is a student. For what reason are you protesting? Avoid being exploited. He said, “Read your books to become like us.”

The governor stressed that insecurity was a national issue while acknowledging the difficulties with security in Ekpoma and around the nation.

“I fear my life in the same manner that you fear your life. Kidnappers don’t know anyone’s situation, so it’s a problem that affects everyone,” he said.

However, he disclosed that numerous illegal actions in the vicinity of Ekpoma engaged locals, according to security agency investigations.

“The majority of kidnapping instances in Ekpoma are local. Natives from Ekpoma were apprehended when troops and other security personnel entered the forest at night. Thus, we must examine the true nature of our adversary,” he continued.

Governor Okpebholo denounced as counterproductive the destruction of stores and property looting that occurred during the demonstration.

“People are starving, nothing is happening, and you are destroying properties and setting shops on fire.” Would you be pleased if it were yours? He inquired.

He promised that criminals would not find a place to hide in Edo State and urged young people and students to embrace peace.

“We must labor for Edo. Criminals won’t have a place to hide in our state, even if some of you are innocent,” he declared.

The governor used the ongoing renovation of the Benin-Auchi Road as an example of what peaceful engagement may accomplish. He explained that the project, which is estimated to be worth ₦135 billion, was approved soon after he brought the matter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s attention.

Dr. Paddy Iyamu, the Commissioner for Education, praised Governor Okpebholo for his prompt action, dedication to education, and choice to help free the detained pupils.

The governor was commended by other speakers for prioritizing the welfare of students and the university community and for opting for conversation over coercion.

The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Gani Audu; the Minister of Youth; the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Youth Engagement; and other high-ranking government officials were present at the meeting.

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A Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Okey Ikechukwu, has said that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is the major cause of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He was discussing the internal political wranglings within the PDP, which have long bedevilled the party.

“The PDP has a lot of crises. Wike has been central to that and to some extent Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Why has Wike not been suspended from the party ever since? He wasn’t suspended after working against the PDP in the 2023 elections.

“He’s been disruptive in the party. So that gives you the image of a party that has completely lost capacity to retain an identity.
“And remember also that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar spoke of APC being the one destabilising the party with money.And I asked myself, what sort of political party will be destabilised with money? It must be a community of clowns.
“It’s painful because I know the history of this party. I was part of the PDP campaign in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023,” he said.

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A former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has disclosed that the lingering leadership crisis rocking the party can be resolved within one week if the leadership of the party adopts political solutions rather than prolonged legal battles.

Olawepo-Hashim stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with the PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as part of ongoing consultations aimed at achieving an out-of-court resolution of the party’s internal dispute.
According to Olawepo-Hashim, resolving the crisis through political engagement would better serve the survival of the party and strengthen Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

He further stated that the party already possesses the constitutional authority required to resolve the impasse without resorting to litigation.
“There are more than enough legitimate members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, to convene a meeting and resolve this crisis within one week,” Olawepo-Hashim said.

He cited Sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the PDP Constitution, which empower two-thirds of NEC members to convene a meeting, noting that the majority of NEC members were elected before the disputed Ibadan convention and therefore retain unquestionable legitimacy.
Olawepo-Hashim noted that although the tenure of some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, expired on December 8, the pre-Ibadan NEC members remain constitutionally empowered to intervene and take corrective action in the overall interest of the party.

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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations, CNCSOs, have jointly called for the immediate resignation of Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo, citing incompetence and failure to address the country’s ongoing electricity crisis.

In a statement jointly issued by James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of CNCSOs, on Sunday, the coalition criticized Minister Adelabu’s tenure, describing him as “a round peg in a square hole.”

The groups argued that the Minister lacks the capacity to effectively manage the power sector, pointing to persistent electricity shortages that have plagued the country for decades.

According to the coalition, over 40% of Nigerians remain without access to electricity, while those connected to the national grid endure inconsistent power supply ranging between 2,000MW and 4,000MW—figures that have stagnated since the 1980s.

The statement further decried the economic repercussions of the power crisis, including business closures, job losses, and hindered economic growth.

The groups also faulted Minister Adelabu for not leveraging the Nigerian Electricity Act of 2023, which allows decentralized electricity provision and public-private partnerships to improve the sector.

“His inability to attract local and international investment has worsened Nigeria’s electricity challenges and undermined economic recovery,” the statement said.

The call for his resignation follows a recent report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, which documented three total grid collapses and two partial collapses in the last quarter of 2024.

Despite these failures, Nigerians, according to the coalition, paid a record N509.84 billion to electricity distribution companies in the same period, an increase from the N466.69 billion spent in the previous quarter. In total, the country experienced 12 grid collapses in 2024, further highlighting the depth of the crisis.

The CNPP and CNCSOs, also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy Minister Adelabu to a different ministry within seven days, questioning his qualifications for the power sector.

They noted that his background lies in finance, hospitality, entertainment, agriculture, and real estate rather than energy management.

“His appointment appears to be a case of political patronage rather than merit, and his performance has validated our concerns,” the statement read.

Beyond the power sector, the coalition expressed broader dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, arguing that they have led to increased hardship and discontent among Nigerians.

While acknowledging the President’s commitment to national development, the groups warned that incompetent appointees threaten these efforts and erode public trust.

“The power sector is too vital to Nigeria’s progress to be left in the hands of individuals without the necessary expertise and vision. Minister Adelabu must resign or be reassigned immediately to prevent further damage to Nigeria’s economy and the well-being of its citizens,” the statement concluded.

The coalition vowed to continue monitoring and evaluating government ministries, departments, and agencies, ensuring that they serve the best interests of the Nigerian people.

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The post Crisis deepens in Zamfara APC as minister Matawalle faces allegations of fund mismanagement appeared first on TheNigerian.

A fresh political storm has erupted within the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid accusations that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, mismanaged party funds and made misleading claims regarding financial donations.

In a statement issued by the Zamfara APC Secretary, Hon. Mansur Aminu Khalifa, the party dismissed Matawalle’s claim of donating ₦500 million to APC supporters as a fabrication, challenging him to provide proof of how the funds were distributed. The statement accused Matawalle’s faction of peddling falsehoods to manipulate party members.

“The claim that Minister Matawalle donated ₦500 million to Zamfara APC supporters is misleading. Even Bashir Ataka, the former Welfare Secretary under Tukur Danfulani, has debunked this narrative,” the statement read.

The controversy within the state APC escalated further as Khalifa asserted that Tukur Danfulani, the current state chairman, was no longer recognized by the party, insisting that his suspension remains valid. Consequently, he declared all actions taken by Danfulani and his executives as illegitimate.

Beyond financial disputes, the party also accused Matawalle and his associates of diverting relief materials, including 12,000 bags of rice donated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to APC supporters in Zamfara. Additionally, allegations surfaced regarding the misappropriation of ₦50 million donated by President Tinubu for victims of armed banditry and fire disasters, with claims that the funds have not reached the intended beneficiaries.

The statement praised Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, a prominent APC leader in the state, for his unwavering support for party members and his contributions to President Tinubu’s 2023 election victory. It described Jaji as a key political force in Zamfara’s APC structure.

Further highlighting Matawalle’s diminishing influence, the statement referenced an incident in which his convoy was allegedly stoned by residents during his recent visit to Zamfara, underscoring the growing opposition to his leadership.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the statement warned that Matawalle’s political relevance in Zamfara was declining, urging President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to be wary of his actions.

Meanwhile, the party reaffirmed its support for the Isiyaka Ajiya Anka-led APC faction, emphasizing that it remains the legitimate leadership in Zamfara until a new congress is held.

As the battle for political dominance within the Zamfara APC intensifies, party factions continue to trade accusations, setting the stage for a prolonged power struggle in the state.

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