The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports claiming that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is planning to resign, describing the allegation as false and fabricated.
The commission issued the clarification following the circulation of a viral social media image purporting to announce Amupitan’s resignation.
In a statement published on its official X account, INEC urged Nigerians to disregard the report and avoid spreading unverified information.
“The claim is FALSE, FABRICATED AND MISLEADING,” the commission declared.
INEC also advised members of the public to rely on its official communication channels for accurate information about its activities and leadership.
The denial comes amid growing controversy surrounding the management of the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawyer Alleges Political Sponsorship of London Protest
Meanwhile, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian lawyer, Otunba Dayo Babalola, has alleged that a political party chieftain sponsored protesters who confronted Amupitan outside Chatham House in London.
Babalola, who said he witnessed the incident on Thursday, November 12, described the demonstrators as a small group of between 10 and 15 people.
He rejected suggestions that the protesters represented Nigerians living in the United Kingdom or the wider diaspora community.
According to him, the demonstration occurred after Amupitan’s official engagement at Chatham House and should not be confused with the proceedings at the event.
The lawyer alleged that a chieftain of one of the major political parties participating in the 2027 elections paid the demonstrators to stage the protest against the INEC chairman.
“Diaspora Nigerians? Nothing could be further from the truth,” Babalola said.
He argued that the actions of a handful of demonstrators should not be presented as the position of the wider Nigerian community abroad.
The protest followed mounting criticism of INEC over alleged irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register, with demonstrators demanding Amupitan’s resignation.
INEC Faces Scrutiny Over Voters’ Register
The controversy surrounding the electoral register intensified after Amupitan disclosed on November 9 that INEC had removed 1,608,660 invalid registrations following a review of records from the 2025 and 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercises.
He also revealed that 54 individuals across 10 states had been identified over alleged registration irregularities and could face disciplinary action, including prosecution.
The concerns included suspected multiple registrations and questionable photographs in the voters’ register.
The London protest further heightened public attention on the commission’s independence and its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC has maintained that Nigerians should verify information before sharing it, particularly reports concerning the commission and its leadership.
