The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to step aside over what it described as a crisis of confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement by its media coordinator, James Ezema, the group said its call was aimed at protecting Nigeria’s electoral integrity and restoring public trust in the commission. MCE cited alleged digital footprints linking Amupitan to partisan expressions favorable to the ruling All Progressives Congress raising concerns about his neutrality.
Although Amupitan has reportedly denied the allegations, MCE said the denials have not eased public concerns and have instead fueled calls for independent verification. The group warned that the controversy could trigger legal and institutional challenges that may distract the commission in the run-up to the 2027 polls.
MCE called for the chairman to temporarily vacate office to allow for an independent investigation by a panel comprising judicial officers, digital forensic experts and civil society representatives. It said identity verification systems, digital access logs and other forensic tools could be used to determine the authenticity of the claims.
Separately, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa raised concerns about the growing influence of money in Nigeria’s electoral process. In a statement signed by its board chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the group warned that vote-buying and the dominance of wealthy political actors threaten credible elections.
“The influence of money in politics has reached alarming levels,” the group said, noting that such practices undermine public confidence, distort democratic outcomes and weaken governance.
Meanwhile, police in Ekiti State said they will arrest vote buyers and other offenders during the June 20, 2026, governorship election. The state commissioner of police, represented by spokesman SP Sunday Abutu, said authorities have strategies in place to curb electoral crimes.
“We are going to be tough on vote-buying and trading,” Abutu said. “Criminal elements will always try to beat our strategies, but we will deploy our forces to prevent that menace.”
He spoke in Ado-Ekiti at a stakeholders’ dialogue on credible elections organized by the International Press Centre in collaboration with the Centre for Media and Society and supported by the European Union.
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Bunmi Omosehindemi, emphasized voter education and proper accreditation as key to credible elections.
IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade said the dialogue was part of the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) program, a five-year initiative to strengthen democratic processes and media capacity.
Director of the Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, urged journalists to adopt artificial intelligence tools and upgrade their skills to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
