By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, Sept 15, 2026
ABUJA — The Obidient Movement has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately clarify the official whereabouts and public engagements of its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, following what it described as his “conspicuous absence” from critical national assignments.
The demand comes in the wake of an official update shared on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, on the electoral body’s official X (formerly Twitter) page. The post disclosed that a National Commissioner, Professor Rhoda Gumus, represented Prof. Amupitan in an acting capacity during a high-profile meeting with an election monitoring delegation from the African Union (AU) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement signed by its Media & Communications Directorate, the Obidient Movement expressed concern over the lack of prior official communication regarding a handover to an acting chief, stressing that the sudden development raises critical questions regarding accountability and non-partisanship.
Five Key Questions for INEC
The group insisted that as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral umpire must maintain absolute transparency.
To resolve public doubts, the movement urged INEC to immediately provide answers to five crucial questions:
What is the current location of the INEC Chairman?
When did he depart Abuja, and for what official purpose?
Who authorized his absence from the Commission’s headquarters?
What engagements or meetings has he held since leaving his official desk or traveling out of the country?
Has he met, or is he scheduled to meet, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, or any other representative of the ruling party?
Demand for Transparency Ahead of 2027
”As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman cannot operate in secrecy,” the statement read. “Given his antecedents and strong affection for the APC, Nigerians have a right to know where the head of the nation’s electoral commission is, who he is meeting, and what official responsibilities he is carrying out.”
The movement further emphasized that the electoral body is answerable to the citizens, warning against any actions that could undermine public trust ahead of future polls.
”The Commission must not create room for suspicion, especially at a time when political activities are intensifying and Nigerians are demanding credible preparations for 2027.
“The era of the INEC Chairman having strategy meetings with the ruling party must be a thing of the past.
”Nigerians do not trust this INEC Chairman or the Commission he leads, so it behoves him and the Commission to not only be transparent and non-partisan but to also be seen as such,” the statement concluded.
Leadership Transition: Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a distinguished Professor of Law and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jos, assumed office as the substantive Chairman of INEC following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025. He succeeded Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who concluded his tenure in late 2025.
Heightened Public Scrutiny: Public trust in the electoral commission has remained a focal point of debate among civil society organizations and opposition political groups following past general elections. As alignment strategies begin for the 2027 election cycle, political movements are closely watching institutional procedures, handover protocols, and top-level diplomatic engagements.