The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has denied a social media report claiming that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is set to resign. The Commission described the report as false, fabricated, and misleading, and urged Nigerians to disregard it. The report was circulated alongside an image purportedly announcing Amupitan's resignation. INEC advised members of the public to rely on its official communication channels for accurate information about its activities and leadership.
The clarification comes amid heightened public attention on the Commission as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections. INEC urged Nigerians to support efforts to curb misinformation by verifying reports before sharing them across social media platforms. The Commission's statement was posted on its official X handle, emphasizing that the claim of Amupitan's resignation is entirely false.
Meanwhile, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian lawyer, Otunba Dayo Babalola, has dismissed claims that protesters who confronted Amupitan outside Chatham House in London represented Nigerians in the diaspora. Babalola, who said he was physically present at the event, described the demonstrators as a small group of between 10 and 15 people.
Babalola alleged that a chieftain of one of the major political parties participating in the 2027 general election paid the protesters to stage the demonstration against the INEC chairman. He insisted that their actions should not be interpreted as the position of the wider Nigerian community in the United Kingdom.
The protest took place after the official Chatham House engagement, which focused on Nigeria's democratic future and preparations for the 2027 general elections. Babalola said reports and videos circulating on social media had created a misleading impression of the incident.
INEC's 2027 readiness has been a topic of discussion, with the Commission recently deploying Google and Microsoft to block cyberattacks. Amupitan has also spoken about the threat of bandits behind a plot to attack NYSC members and disrupt polls.
The incident has sparked controversy, with INEC and Babalola working to clarify the situation and set the record straight. The Commission's efforts to curb misinformation and ensure the integrity of the electoral process are ongoing.
Key points
- INEC denies report of Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan's resignation, calling it false and misleading.
- London protest against Amupitan was staged by a small group of paid protesters, not representative of the Nigerian diaspora community.
- INEC is taking steps to prepare for the 2027 general elections, including deploying technology to block cyberattacks.
