A senior figure in the African Democratic Congress has launched a fierce attack on the head of Nigeria election body, accusing him of poor judgment, dishonesty and acting under political pressure.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of African Democratic Congress, said the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has shown a shocking level of incompetence in handling the party’s leadership dispute.
His remarks follow the controversy surrounding INEC’s position on the recognition of ADC’s national leadership.
In a detailed post shared online, Okonkwo criticized Amupitan for admitting during a live appearance on Arise TV Morning Show on March 3, 2026, that he first became aware of a key Court of Appeal judgment through social media, despite INEC being directly involved in the case and represented by legal counsel.
Okonkwo described this as alarming and unacceptable, arguing that it suggests the electoral body is being run based on online chatter instead of legal facts. He warned that such an approach weakens decision making and reduces the credibility of the commission.
The ADC leader also challenged Amupitan’s timeline of events, especially the claim that internal conflict within the party began on July 29, 2025. According to Okonkwo, that date actually marked a unified decision by the party’s National Executive Committee to dissolve the old leadership and install a new team led by David Mark.
He explained that prior to that decision, Nafiu Bala Gombe had already resigned from the party in May 2025 and did not contest the new leadership at the time. INEC officials, he added, were present at the meeting and accepted the outcome, and were also formally informed of Nafiu’s resignation.
Okonkwo stressed that no legal dispute existed until September 2026, when a group aligned with Nafiu filed a motion in court. That application was dismissed, and the matter only became contentious after parties were formally notified and legal proceedings began.
He argued that the principle of maintaining the existing situation should favor the David Mark led leadership until a court gives a final ruling.
Accusing the INEC chairman of deliberately twisting facts, Okonkwo claimed the incorrect timeline was used to justify what he called an unlawful move to act against ADC. He further alleged that the decision was influenced by pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Okonkwo also questioned INEC’s authority to interpret court rulings, insisting the commission is not a judicial body and should not act without a direct order. He said the Court of Appeal did not issue any instruction to INEC, making its actions unjustified.
According to him, the proper role of the commission would have been to remain neutral and allow the courts to clarify any disputes.
He ended his statement with a strong call for Amupitan’s removal, accusing him of undermining democratic principles and acting against the integrity of the electoral system.
