ADC Knocks INEC Chairman Amupitan Over Remarks on Party Crisis

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan, over his recent comments on the party’s internal crisis.

In a statement issued on Friday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the INEC chairman’s remarks reflect a misapplication of constitutional principles and judicial directives.

Abdullahi argued that Amupitan’s repeated assertion that INEC is operating within a multi-party constitutional framework fails to address the core concerns raised by the opposition party.

According to him, the real issue is not whether Nigeria remains a multi-party state in theory, but whether INEC’s actions are undermining the ability of opposition parties to function effectively.

“The question before Nigerians is not whether Nigeria remains a multi-party state in theory, but whether the actions of INEC in practice are weakening opposition parties’ ability to organise and operate freely,” he said.

The ADC spokesman clarified that the party has not alleged the abolition of multi-party democracy, but rather expressed concern over actions that could erode it in practice.

He further stated that the INEC chairman’s reliance on the existence of multiple political parties as evidence of neutrality does not sufficiently address the specific issues raised by the ADC.

“While the commission seeks to present its position as one anchored in law and neutrality, the substance of the chairman’s own statements reveals a fundamental misapplication of both constitutional principles and judicial directives,” Abdullahi added.

On the Court of Appeal ruling, Abdullahi accused Amupitan of misinterpreting the doctrine of status quo ante bellum, which he said was being used to justify a suspension of party activities.

He argued that such an interpretation is selective and legally flawed, noting that preservation orders are meant to prevent irreversible actions during litigation, not to paralyse the internal operations of a political party.