By George Mgbeleke

African Democratic Party (ADC) has again reiterated it earlier called on the Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan to resign or be removed from his position as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission noting that his recent actions and public statements have further deepened concerns about his fitness to continue in office as INEC chairman.

The party in an open letter to INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan signed by Former Senate President and ADC chairman Senator David Mark and ADC National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made available to Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

The reads :

AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)
ADC Global Campus & Transformation Centre
Plot 121, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent
Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria
www.adcparty.org.ng | Email: info@adcparty.org.ng
08105507372, 09090690000

April 8, 2026

Professor Joseph Amupitan, SAN
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
INEC National Headquarters,
Plot 436, Zambezi Crescent,
Maitama, Abuja.

Dear Sir,

RE: DEMAND FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OVER PARTISAN CONDUCT, GROSS MISCONDUCT, CONSTITUTIONAL BREACH, AND THREAT TO MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY

We write to convey our strongest condemnation of your recent actions and public statements, which have further deepened concerns about your fitness to continue in office as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Your recent media interview was not only disgraceful and unbecoming of the high office you occupy but it also exposed a troubling willingness to descend into partisan controversy and to assume roles far outside the constitutional mandate of the Commission.

Of grave concern is your attempt to constitute yourself into an interpreter of judicial pronouncements. This is wholly unacceptable. The interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive preserve of the judiciary. For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers.

Your conduct, taken together with INEC’s earlier correspondence to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reinforces the perception that the Commission under your leadership has abandoned neutrality and has instead aligned itself with factional interests. This is not only improper; it is dangerous for the credibility of our electoral system.

Furthermore, it is a matter of record that the individual in question attended the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ADC at which the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Ralph Nwosu, of which he was a member, was duly dissolved. Having participated in that decision, any subsequent reliance on his former authority, position, or signature is fundamentally flawed, contradictory, and devoid of legal credibility.

INEC’s posture in this regard raises serious questions about bias and institutional overreach.

INEC is not a court of law. It is not an advocate. It has no mandate to interpret judgments to suit a preferred narrative. Its duty is clear: to act strictly within the bounds of the Constitution and the law, with absolute neutrality and professionalism.

Beyond these infractions, we unequivocally condemn what can only be described as a dangerous and unacceptable attempt to undermine and destroy Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system. Any action, policy, or conduct that tilts the electoral playing field, elevates an aggrieved party member to factional leader, or interferes with the internal autonomy of political parties strikes at the very heart of democratic pluralism. And all of these you have done.

We state, without equivocation, that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will resist any such attempt—lawfully, firmly, and resolutely. Nigeria’s democracy was built on the foundation of political plurality, and no individual or institution will be allowed to erode that foundation through partisan conduct and administrative overreach.

We acknowledge that the INEC was, and is still populated by many men and women of conscience and integrity who have laboured over the years in the service of our country and the sanctity of its electoral process. But you have appeared willing to lay their sacrifices to waste by your very conduct, which today has effectively brought the Commission into disrepute and has significantly eroded public confidence.

For avoidance of doubts, we outline below, the basic process that led to the emergence of the David Mark led executive, which copiously established that you are indeed in a position to know the truth but only chose to distort or ignore it.

On March 27, 2025, the Party, ADC, had its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the National Headquarters and Transformation Centre, 4, Oyo St., Area 2, Abuja, where it decided among other matters to waive the provisions of Articles 9.3(1)(2)(3) & 9.4(1). These Articles of the Party’s Constitution had earlier been highlighted in the opening remarks of the Chairman of the Party as impediments to the vision of the Party to build an all-inclusive Party that will align other stakeholders in a broad patriotic coalition. To this end, the National Legal Adviser of the Party, Peter Oyewole Esq., moved that Article 9.4(4) be invoked accordingly. This motion was adopted at the meeting. This meeting had INEC officials, NWC and NEC members in attendance. In addition, the report of the meeting was forwarded to INEC by the Party in a letter to the Chairman of INEC dated April 3, 2025 and was acknowledged as received in the office of the Chairman of INEC.

On April 4, 2025, another National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was held at the Chelsea Hotel, CBD, Abuja. This meeting decided among other matters to:
a. Suspend Article 23(4) of the Party’s constitution which could prevent the assumption of vacant offices by merit.
b. Mandate and empower the National Chairman; Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and the National Working Committee (NWC) to take all necessary actions, make requisite decisions and engage relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful formation, coordination and execution of the coalition in line with the vision and objectives of the Party.
c. The resolutions were unanimously passed and adopted by the meeting.

This meeting had INEC officials, NWC and NEC members in attendance. The report of the meeting was communicated to the Chairman of INEC in a letter dated May 21, 2025. It was acknowledged as received in the office of the Chairman of INEC on May 30, 2025.

On July 2, 2025, the National Working Committee (NWC), following the order of the NEC of May 15, 2025 already cited above, at its meeting made the following resolutions:
a. Constitution of a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the Party in light of the coalition process and internal restructuring.
b. Composition and appointment of people to the Caretaker Committee/Interim NWC with Senator David Mark as caretaker National Chairman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as caretaker National Secretary, Abdullahi as caretaker National Publicity Secretary, as well other members.
c. The Caretaker Committee is to manage the affairs of the Party for a minimum period of twelve months.

On July 29, 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party met at Chelsea Hotel, CBD, Abuja and made the following decisions among others:
a. Ratification of NWC resolutions and constitution of a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the Party in light of the coalition process and internal restructuring.
b. Approval of the composition and appointment of people to the Caretaker Committee which includes all the officers listed above.
c. The National Chairman; Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and National Secretary Alhaji Saidu Baba Abdullahi were mandated to immediately notify INEC of the changes in the Party’s leadership.
d. Following the adoption of motions and ratification of the Caretaker Committee members by the NEC of the Party unanimously, members were sworn into their various offices and necessary oaths of office were administered. This was done in the presence of INEC officials and NEC members without a single objection. NEC members, all the newly appointed Caretaker Committee members affirmed their loyalty and commitment to the African Democratic Congress and its Constitution. There was not a single objection or dissenting voice.
e. The report of this NEC meeting was submitted to INEC as directed by the NEC by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Saidu Baba Abdullahi.
f. It was on the basis of this open, transparent process that INEC accepted the new leadership and uploaded the principal officers in its electronic portal.

From the foregoing, therefore, no member of the former NWC of the Party therefore has any right or claim to any office thereafter.

You must also be aware that INEC’s own affidavit, deposed at the Federal High Court on September 12, unequivocally confirms all of the foregoing. We must also bring to your notice that we are aware of efforts being made by INEC under your directive as well as the pressure being mounted on conscientious INEC officials to recant their testimonies which contradicts the agenda that you have decided to pursue. This is indeed unconscionable.

In light of all the foregoing, we hereby demand:

Your immediate resignation from office in the interest of preserving the integrity of INEC; OR
Your immediate removal by the appropriate constitutional authorities for gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of constitutional boundaries.

We also reiterate our demand for:
The immediate withdrawal of INEC’s offensive correspondence to the ADC;
A formal apology to the party; and
A clear commitment to refrain from further interference in the internal affairs of political parties.

Take note that failure to comply will leave us with no option but to activate all lawful and constitutional mechanisms to ensure accountability, including judicial proceedings and coordinated civic action.

The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy cannot and will not be sacrificed on the altar of institutional compromise.

Yours faithfully,

Senator David Mark
National Chairman,
African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
National Secretary,
African Democratic Congress (ADC)