2027 Elections: My Loyalty Is Solely To The Constitution, Says Amupitan

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has declared that his loyalty is solely to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, insisting that his leadership of the electoral body will remain impartial.

Amupitan stated this n on Thursday while responding to questions about his neutrality at Chatham House, London, during a high-level dialogue organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).

The dialogue was held under the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”

His comments followed the controversy that surrounded an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly linked to him, which allegedly made a partisan post expressing support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.

INEC had, however, denied that Amupitan operated the account, describing the allegations as digital impersonation.

Responding to the issue at Chatham House on Thursday, the INEC chairman denied operating an X account, saying an independent forensic review had been obtained and the matter formally referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.

Dismissing concerns about his impartiality, Amupitan said his allegiance was to the country’s legal framework rather than any political interest.

“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” he declared. “Every constitutional institution—including the Presidency, the National Assembly, and state governors—owes its primary loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The INEC chairman also dismissed suggestions that his previous legal representation in political disputes could compromise his neutrality, explaining that he acted strictly within his professional responsibilities as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria before his appointment.

Amupitan urged Nigerians to trust his leadership to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, citing improvements recorded in recent off-cycle elections and technical safeguards introduced by the commission.

He acknowledged that the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had significantly damaged public confidence in INEC.

“First and foremost, let me speak about what happened in 2023, which resulted in a significant trust deficit for INEC—damage so large that the Commission has not yet fully recovered from it,” he said.

He added that the commission had learnt lessons from subsequent elections, including those in Anambra and Osun states, where results were declared the day after voting.

Meanwhile, Amupitan identified insecurity, logistics and result management as the commission’s major priorities ahead of the 2027 elections.

On allegations of anomalies in the voters’ register, including claims of an 85 per cent increase in registrants in a ward in Ebonyi State, he said INEC had investigated and resolved the complaint in line with statutory procedures.

He noted that the Electoral Act provides windows for public claims, objections and requests for certified true copies of the voters’ register.

The INEC chairman also urged Nigerian youths to remain actively involved in the democratic process, warning against the dangers of misinformation.

“This country belongs to young Nigerians, and they must not relent in working for the Nigeria they desire,” he said. “Misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Citizens must verify information before acting or sharing, and give our democracy the chance to succeed.”