By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the absence of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The clarification came after concerns were raised over Amupitan’s absence, particularly after National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus appeared as Acting Chairman during an engagement between INEC and a delegation from the African Union in Abuja.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said the chairman remained in charge of his responsibilities despite being outside Abuja.
“The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said.
The explanation followed a call by the Obidient Movement for INEC to clarify the circumstances surrounding Amupitan’s absence and the delegation of his responsibilities.
The movement, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, questioned why there had been no public announcement concerning the chairman’s absence or the transfer of his duties to another National Commissioner.
Tanko also sought clarification on whether Amupitan had travelled outside Nigeria and the official engagements responsible for his absence.
“As far as the Obidient Movement and Nigerians are concerned, there was no official communication of Professor Amupitan’s handover to anyone, either in acting or substantive capacity,” the group said.
It added that the situation raised questions about “the Chairman’s current location, official schedule and the circumstances surrounding his absence.”
Tanko said greater transparency was necessary given INEC’s constitutional responsibility for conducting elections and the importance of public confidence in its leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman cannot operate in secrecy,” he said.
However, information published on INEC’s official social media platforms shows that Amupitan has been undertaking official engagements outside Nigeria.
One of the commission’s posts showed the chairman in Ottawa, Canada, where he met Google Global Lead for Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez.
He was accompanied by INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections, where Amupitan spoke on Nigeria’s experience with artificial intelligence in electoral administration.
The INEC chairman had also held meetings with senior officials of Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
The engagements focused on emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence, particularly their potential application in strengthening the security and resilience of electoral processes.
A senior INEC official also dismissed concerns over Amupitan’s absence from Abuja, saying there was no requirement for the chairman to remain physically at the commission’s headquarters while performing official duties elsewhere.
“It is a non-issue. Must he be in Abuja to perform his duties? So, if I were to go on leave, can’t I hand over to someone until I return?” the official said.
The official explained that Amupitan was attending a conference where he delivered an address and also held other official meetings.
“The Chairman is attending a conference and even gave an address at the conference. He had some meetings too. So what is the issue? It’s just noise,” the official added.
The latest clarification comes as INEC faces renewed scrutiny over the conduct and neutrality of individuals involved in electoral duties ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission has also recently been questioned over its engagement of university lecturers as electoral officials after more than 600 academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria publicly declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
INEC had said it would examine concerns involving lecturers who openly take partisan positions despite the commission’s practice of engaging academics for sensitive electoral assignments, including returning and collation duties.
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