INEC Breaks Silence on Amupitan’s Alleged Resignation, Labels Viral Report Fabricated

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, is preparing to resign from office, describing the allegation as false, fabricated and misleading.

The electoral body issued the clarification on Saturday, November 14, following the circulation of a purported report accompanied by an image suggesting that Amupitan was set to step down from his position. INEC said the publication was misleading and did not represent authentic information about the commission’s leadership.

In a statement published on its official X account, the commission categorically rejected the resignation claim and urged Nigerians to disregard the circulating report. “The claim is FALSE, FABRICATED AND MISLEADING,” INEC declared, leaving no ambiguity about its position on the allegation.

The commission also cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information, particularly on matters concerning its leadership and official activities. It advised Nigerians to rely exclusively on its recognised communication channels for accurate updates, while encouraging social media users to help curb the spread of misinformation.

The denial comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Amupitan’s leadership following controversies surrounding the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections. The commission has recently faced questions over alleged irregularities in voter registration records, including suspected multiple registrations and questionable photographs appearing in the preliminary register.

On November 9, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had removed 1,608,660 invalid registrations from the preliminary voters’ register following a review of entries generated during the 2025 and 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercises. He further revealed that 54 individuals across 10 states had been identified in connection with alleged registration irregularities and could face disciplinary measures, including prosecution.

The controversy also followed the INEC chairman to London, where protesters confronted his vehicle outside Chatham House on Thursday, demanding his resignation over alleged shortcomings in the management of the voters’ register. The demonstrators reportedly surrounded his vehicle as he departed the venue, calling on him to address their concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

Speaking during his engagement at Chatham House, Amupitan acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections had significantly undermined public confidence in the electoral commission. He, however, appealed to Nigerians to support his leadership, assuring that INEC was introducing measures to address previous shortcomings and strengthen the credibility of future elections.

As part of preparations for the forthcoming elections, the INEC chairman announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise scheduled for November 28. The exercise is intended to test upgrades to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also disclosed that additional technical safeguards had been introduced to prevent inaccurate polling unit results and figures indicating over-voting from being uploaded to the commission’s Result Viewing Portal.

The 2027 general elections are scheduled to commence with the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, followed by governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on February 6. Against this backdrop, INEC’s latest clarification seeks to dispel speculation about a possible leadership change and redirect public attention to its preparations for the crucial electoral exercise. The commission has reiterated its appeal to Nigerians to verify information before sharing it and avoid giving credibility to fabricated reports.