The chairman of of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has denied plot to turn Nigeria into a one-party state in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the nation, ahead of the general elections in 2027.
He made the disclosure in an interview on Arise Television where he allayed the fears of opposition figures who had accused the electoral body acting under the influence of the ruling government.
The criticism arose from INEC’s recent actions concerning the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC’s lingering leadership dispute.
The crisis made it to derecognise the leadership of former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as national chairman and secretary, respectively of the party.
Amupitan said, “Let me state very clearly that I’m not a part of anyone’s plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state”.
According to him, “If this judgment didn’t come, would I decide on my own? Even on social media, if you look at people who talk, they speak from their own interests”.
The chairman of INEC also argued that “the question is whether they lack confidence in what INEC has done. INEC didn’t make the decision that is causing these grievances.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, had insisted that INEC’s actions were guided solely by constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements in his earlier Press statement.
He maintained that its structure and operations are constitutionally protected, noting that calls for the removal of its chairman fall outside established legal procedures.
The ADC internal crisis started boiling over in July 2025 with the emergence of former chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
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