The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is currently outside Abuja on official assignment, stressing that he has the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, gave the clarification in response to questions raised by the Obidient Movement over the chairman’s whereabouts.
“The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said in a brief WhatsApp message to our correspondent.
The clarification followed a statement by the Obidient Movement on Wednesday, demanding an explanation from INEC after National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, appeared as Acting Chairman during an engagement with an African Union delegation at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The movement, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, questioned why there had been no public announcement indicating when or why Amupitan handed over his duties to Gumus.
It also asked INEC to clarify whether the chairman had travelled outside Nigeria and, if so, disclose details of his official engagements.
“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.
“This raises legitimate questions about the Chairman’s current location, official schedule and the circumstances surrounding his absence,” the statement partly read.
Tanko said the questions were prompted by INEC’s constitutional responsibility to conduct elections and the importance of public confidence in the commission’s leadership as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
“As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman cannot operate in secrecy,” he said.
Checks by our correspondent on the commission’s official X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook accounts showed that Amupitan had been engaged in activities outside the country, supporting INEC’s position that his absence from Abuja was connected with official duties.
A post on Friday showed the chairman in Ottawa, Canada, where he met with Google Global Lead, Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez, accompanied by the Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections.
Earlier on Thursday, the chairman had held strategic partnership meetings with senior officials of Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Amupitan engaged Ethan Chumley, Emerging Tech and Cyber Lead, and Ariana Molina, Programme Manager, on areas of mutual interest in emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence, particularly as they relate to strengthening the resilience and security of electoral processes.
Amupitan had also addressed the AI conference, sharing Nigeria’s experience and lessons in institutionalising responsible AI for electoral administration.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the commission as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, another senior INEC official, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, described the Obidient Movement’s concerns as “a non-issue”, stressing that the chairman was not required to be in Abuja or at the commission’s headquarters to perform his duties.
“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 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 said.
