The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied a viral image circulating on social media, claiming that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, is set to resign. In a fake news alert issued on Saturday, November 12, 2026, INEC described the claim as false, fabricated, and misleading. The Commission urged members of the public to disregard the report and rely solely on INEC's official communication channels for authentic information.
The denial comes amid growing concerns among Nigerians about Amupitan's alleged partisanship and lack of public confidence in his leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. On Thursday, November 10, 2026, Amupitan faced a hostile protest in London, where he had gone to participate in a panel discussion titled, "Nigeria's 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot." Protesters demanded his resignation over alleged irregularities in the preliminary voters' register.
The protesters accused INEC of abandoning its neutrality in favour of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), labelling INEC a "criminal organisation." They also highlighted issues with duplicate registrations, suspected AI-generated photographs, deceased voters' records, and doubtful polling units. Amupitan stayed in his vehicle and made no audible response to the demonstrators.
INEC has admitted irregularities in the register and opened investigations. On November 9, 2026, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had removed 1,608,660 invalid registrations from the 2025 and 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercises, plus 873 records of deceased persons. The Commission identified 54 persons across 10 states for possible prosecution for multiple registration and photo substitution.
Amupitan has faced intense scrutiny since his appointment in October 2025, with critics saying that precedent has damaged the perception of INEC's independence. Inside Chatham House, Amupitan tried to reassure Nigerians and the international community, declaring, "My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act." He also ruled out accepting any political or diplomatic appointment after his tenure.
The London protest and the fake resignation rumour show how volatile the information space around INEC has become. With the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the governorship elections for February 6, 2027, INEC is under intense pressure to prove its neutrality. The Commission has introduced strict validation safeguards to prevent inaccurate results from being uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in 2027.
The bigger question remains: Can Amupitan and his Commission convince a sceptical public that the 2027 elections will be free, fair, and credible? The fake news alert may have been debunked, but it highlights the challenges INEC faces in restoring public confidence before the elections. The Commission's ability to address concerns and deliver a credible election process will be crucial in determining its success.
Key points
- INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan faces growing concerns about his alleged partisanship and the Commission's neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- The Commission has admitted irregularities in the voters' register and has taken steps to address them, including removing 1.6 million invalid registrations.
- Amupitan has reassured Nigerians and the international community of his commitment to a free, fair, and credible election process.
