PRESS STATEMENT: 2027 ELECTIONS — MCE, LEADERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY DEMAND AMUPITAN, INEC CHAIRMAN TO STEP ASIDE OVER PARTISANSHIP

 

Sunday, 19th April, 2026

……. AMUPITAN HAS LOST CREDIBILITY TO CONDUCT 2027 ELECTIONS 

Amupitan

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) is compelled, in the overriding public interest, particularly in defense of Nigeria’s electoral integrity, to issue this statement as touching the deepening crisis of confidence surrounding the office of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presently occupied by Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

This intervention is anchored on the immutable doctrine of equity which holds that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. At this crucial period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, it is evident that the hands presiding over INEC are, at best, under grave distrust and, at worst, compromised to elicit the credibility required for the conduct of the 2027 elections.

I. A Crisis of Credibility and the Burden of Proof of Recent developments on the emergence of digital footprints linking the INEC Chairman to partisan expressions sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have triggered a legitimacy crisis of fundamental proportions. While Professor Amupitan has issued categorical denials, such denials—within the context of modern digital forensics—do not extinguish suspicion; rather, they activate a higher threshold for verification. 

In this digital age, denial is not a defence—it is an invitation to forensic scrutiny. The public domain is already saturated with analytical trails allegedly connecting the disputed account to identifiable personal and financial markers. These include potential linkages to verified communication channels and regulated financial platforms subject to stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. 

II. Forensic Trap and Legal Crisis:

The MCE notes with concern that the current posture of the INEC Chairman risks escalating a reputational crisis into a full-blown legal distractions for the 2027 elections 

1. Banking and identity verification systems, particularly those governed by BVN and NIN protocols, provide traceable ownership structures that are legally discoverable under subpoena.

2. Digital platform operators maintain device-level access logs, including IMEI-linked login histories, which are admissible in judicial proceedings.

3. Any escalation of this matter into sworn testimony raises the spectre of legal crisis bordering on perjury, with severe professional and constitutional consequences.

4. The attempt to reframe legitimate public inquiry as cybercrime—accompanied by threats of arrest—constitutes a dangerous misuse of state apparatus by giving false information to law enforcement authorities under Nigerian law.

III. INEC’s Institutional Conduct and the Pattern of Bias:

Beyond the immediate controversy, the MCE is alarmed by a growing pattern of actions and decisions by INEC that have been widely interpreted as detrimental to opposition political participation in Nigeria. These include administrative inconsistencies, selective enforcement of electoral regulations, and operational conduct that cumulatively erode the level playing field required in a multi party democracy.

The aggregation of these concerns lends credence to a disturbing hypothesis: that Nigeria is being subtly but systematically steered toward a de facto one-party and one man rule in violation of both the letter and spirit of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

IV. International Implications and the Risk of State Liability:

The MCE further warns that this matter transcends domestic jurisdiction. Should aggrieved parties seek redress before regional judicial bodies, including the ECOWAS Court, the Nigerian State may face international embarrassment, adverse rulings, and financial liabilities as global governance and legal monitoring institutions are increasingly intolerant of electoral manipulation and the suppression of digital freedoms. The current trajectory threatens not only the personal legacy of the INEC Chairman but also Nigeria’s standing in the international democratic community.

V. Moral Indictment and Question of Fitness for Office:

The exhumed digital expressions of AMUPITAN—widely interpreted as supportive of the APC during the last electoral cycle—raise fundamental ethical questions. If validated, they constitute prima facie evidence of pre-existing partisan alignment inconsistent with the neutrality required of an electoral umpire, which inevitably leads to a troubling conclusion: that the appointment of Professor Amupitan may have been influenced by partisan considerations, thereby undermining the moral foundation of his office and the 2027 elections 

VI. Demand for Immediate Action

In light of the foregoing, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) hereby demands as follows:

1. That Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan immediately step aside from his position as Chairman of INEC to allow for a truly independent, transparent, and forensic investigation into the allegations.

2. That the Federal Government constitute an impartial panel comprising judicial, digital forensic, and civil society experts to ascertain the truth.

3. That all forms of intimidation, harassment, or threats against citizens raising legitimate concerns be halted forthwith.

4. That INEC recommit itself to institutional neutrality through verifiable reforms that restore public confidence.

VII. Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Nigeria’s Democracy

Nigeria stands at a democratic crossroads. The integrity of its electoral management body cannot be compromised without grave consequences for credible elections, national stability and legitimacy of governance.

Professor Amupitan must recognize that this is no longer a personal matter of denial—it is a national question of trust. The only honourable path, consistent with both legal prudence and moral responsibility, is to step aside and submit to the cleansing light of transparent investigation.

History will not be kind to those who, when confronted with questions of integrity, chose concealment over accountability.

Signed:

Comrade James Ezema,

Media Coordinator,

Movement for Credible Elections (MCE)

Abuja, Nigeria

ELECTIONS RESULTS TRANSMISSION: Nigeria's Senate should get accurate information from the telcom regulator, the NCC, rather than dishing out information that would not hold water in today’s telecom development

 

A Profile Picture: Senator Nenadi Esther Usman
 in charge of the Labour Party's National Secretariat 

The telcos, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and T2 Mobile, have dismissed the excuses by the Nigerian lawmakers on election results transmission as half-truth.

They challenged the Nigeria's Senate to obtain an accurate information from the telcom regulator, the NCC, rather than dishing out information that would not hold water in today’s telecom development.

The Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have given series of reasons to sabotage the Electronic transmission of election results in real time opting for manual transfer of election results instead but at last adopted both the electronic transmission and manual transfer of election results. Nigerians are not happy for this anti people decisions.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, the umbrella body of the telcos, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, told reporters that any information about the telecom infrastructure and country coverage not emanating from the NCC could not be relied upon.

In his words Adebayo said:  “Upon which survey or statistics is the Senate coming up with its position of inadequate telecom infrastructure? As we speak today, over 70% of the country is covered with 3G and 4G, and 5G have about 11% coverage and the rest is 2G.

“Even in reality, 2G is strong enough to transmit results electronically. I do not know where the Senate is getting its information but we can’t take that blanket ban on electronic transmission based on a half-truth about our infrastructure and investments.

“We agree that there are just maybe about two states that, due to insurgency, that our members cannot risk going to maintain facilities. But that is what all stakeholders can sit together and decide how to cover those places. It’s not enough to say the country is not ready for electronic transmission.’’

Adebayo‘s position tallies with that INEC, which in 2022 dismissed the fears, saying where there were network challenges, results uploaded to iREV would transmit once the machines were within areas with network coverage.

The pro Terrorists ruling All Progressive Party APC is busy making grounds for their determined electoral malpractices in 2027.

Ondo APC group petitions national secretariat over Olubunmi Ojo's alleged grassroot neglect, violent attack on party members

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo 

A group named Ondo APC Mandate Group has petitioned the All Progressive Congress national secretariat over what it described as the minister of interior's neglect of the grassroot and violence against party members. 

In a petition dated 17th of Sept, 2025, signed by the convener of the group Alhaji Ariwoola Abdukareem, comrade Gbenga Bojuwomi the secretary and four other exco members, submitted to the party's headquarters in Abuja, the group alleged the Minister of Interior of masterminding violent attack on party members during the last local government election in the state.

  

In the petition titled: "Call for Accountability and Reflection on the Conduct of Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo", addressed to the national chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, the group called on the leadership of the party to call the minister to order for violent attack, neglect and total disregard for his grassroot supporters who were instrumental to his emergence and rising political profile.

The petition reads in part; "We, the undersigned stakeholders and concerned citizens of Akoko Land in Ondo State, wish to express our deep concern regarding the conduct and political disposition of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior and former Member of the House of Representatives.

"Hon. Tunji-Ojo, appears to attribute his political success solely to personal merit, disregarding the collective efforts and sacrifices of many political actors from Akoko Land and Ondo State, the APC mandate group in particular."

The group further alleged that Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has paid their selfless gesture with attack, arrogance and dismissiveness, as he portray his political rise and victory as a personal triumph rather than a collective achievement.

"Similar trait was displayed during the recent local government elections in Ondo State, when the minister allegedly orchestrated acts of violence against party members solely on the ground that his preferred aspirant did not emerge at the primaries. 

Notably, Hon. Oluwatoye Ajiboye, the APC councillorship candidate in Ward 5 of Akoko northwest, was reportedly assaulted by the men of Nigeria Civil Defense Corps and another party leader detained for days by the Police under the ministers' instruction", the petition read.

The APC group maintained that the minister's actions raise serious questions about his commitment to democratic values and party unity as his behavior suggests a troubling disconnect from the people he claims to represent. 

”We therefore, call on the APC leadership under Prof. Yelwata, the Presidency and the concerned security agencies to take a closer look at the minister’s activities and their implications on security, party’s image and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term aspirations".

LP Spokesperson — APC In a Fresh Plot to Infiltrate, Hijack Our Congress Structures

Tony Akeni 

The Interim Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party in Nigeria, Prince Tony Akeni has confirmed that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is currently in a fresh and desperate plots to infiltrate and hijack the party again.

The Labour Party is just coming out of a very long leadership crisis believed to have been politically motivated and sponsored by the ruling party. The  Apapa—Abure leadership imbroglio and later INEC insistence on tenure expiration of the Abure led leadership crippled the party's progress and momentum since 2023 general election.

With 2027 general election already in Sight, the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party (LP) has cried out over what it described as a desperate plot by the Bola Ahmed led federal government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hijack its structures by infiltrating its ranks.

The party's leadership has consistently maintained it's opposition against Tinubu’s  unending love for foreign travels amidst Nigeria’s growing security and economic challenges. 

According to Akeni the information reaching the party’s headquarters from various states of the federation showed that the ruling party was positioning its moles to infiltrate the party structures through the scheduled party congresses at the ward, local government, state, zonal, and ultimately, the national level.

“We have been made aware of the heinous plot by the ruling APC to infiltrate our ranks at all levels to derail our forthcoming congresses."

“If they fail, they plan to get a seat on our party’s table to continue from where they stopped after failing to use former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to distract us from our goal of rebuilding our party.

“Nigerians are also aware of what the current administration has turned our institutions, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), into."

“We are all witnesses to what transpired during the by-elections, which were held in 16 out of the 36 states recently, and the manipulation of the ongoing voter registration exercise."

“Our nation cannot afford to have a repeat of the era where the American boxer, Mike Tyson, the late pop star, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie appear on our voters’ register.'

“As a party, we will continue to urge Nigerian voters to be vigilant. Eternal vigilance, as they say, is the price we all must pay to protect our democracy."

“The body language of INEC as presently constituted gives it away as an institution which is only ready to pander to the whims and caprices of the ruling party."

“We can only pray that whosoever is coming into office after the tenure of the current INEC boss expires in November or December is not going to throw the confidence of Nigerians down the drain", he explained.

In a statement earlier issued by Akeni on behalf of the party, he criticised Tinubu’s seemingly unending love for foreign travels amidst Nigeria’s growing security and economic challenges.

He said the president’s trip this time around indicated that he was increasingly becoming allergic to staying at home to tackle the nation’s problems.

President Tinubu left Nigeria for a 10-day working vacation in France and the United Kingdom as part of his 2025 annual leave on Thursday.

Akeni noted that available records show that 135 million Nigerians fell into poverty within the first 18 months of Tinubu’s administration due to difficult economic policies.

He equally pointed out that galloping inflation, weakening of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, and insecurity have been the hallmark of Tinubu’s rule since he took power in 2023.

Akeni said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Nigeria for yet another of his many overseas trips. “This time, the trip is officially explained as a 10-day vacation and part of his 2025 annual leave, which he will spend in France and the United Kingdom.

“As President Tinubu takes to the sky, he leaves behind a country ravaged by economic hardship where 135 million citizens fell into poverty in the first 18 months of his administration, caused by his difficult economic policies.

“Tinubu also leaves behind an insecurity of historic proportions, where 57 Nigerians die every day from various forms of violent death.

“This amounts to seven deaths more than Ukraine’s war casualties, which lose 50 citizens per day in its full-scale war with Russia, according to research by Mediazona and The Book of Memory Group, corroborated by a similar BBC study.

“The Nigerian casualty figures exclude deaths from daily traffic accidents, Nigeria’s frequent boat mishaps, and other civil hazards.

“You will recall that President Tinubu had only sat in office for four months after his swearing in on May 29, 2023, when he flew overseas on his first annual vacation. This was on October 2, 2023.

“This means that under the APC governance manual, four months made up one year for the Nigerian president to go on an annual vacation. This is historic for a post-inaugural president because it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.

“Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu has travelled and virtually ‘lived’ outside Nigeria for nearly 160 days. This is almost half of an entire year in only two years of office.

“Tracing this unproductive trend backwards to Buhari’s days, records show that APC produces dinner and toothpick presidents who eat breakfast in Abuja, have lunch in Paris, and belch in London.

“They enjoy costly vacations abroad like children enjoy excursions to amusement parks. From Buhari’s administration to Tinubu’s current rule, that is the only reason why billions of naira they vote every year for the Aso Villa presidential clinic perpetually empty into unknown pockets, and the clinic’s medicine shelves do not have drugs for even cramps.

“From late Buhari to Tinubu, APC has continued to produce nomadic presidents whose medical and social tourism cost our country billions of Naira in taxpayers’ money.”

The Labour Party’s interim spokesman said the party will do things differently should Nigerians vote it into power come 2027.

According to him, it is the government’s responsibility to put in place a standard healthcare system that would cater to...