Opposition Parties Demand INEC Chairman's Resignation

During a national summit held in Ibadan on Saturday, opposition political parties in Nigeria demanded the resignation of Joash Ojo Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They accused him of favoring the ruling All Progressives Congress and insisted that he would not oversee credible elections in 2027.

The summit's communiqué called for an urgent review of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly sections believed to undermine free and credible elections. The opposition also demanded the release of detained politicians accused of bailable offenses and an extension of the deadline for party primaries until the end of July 2026.

They argued that recent guidelines issued by INEC create obstacles for political parties in preparing for the elections. Additionally, the summit resolved to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, describing this move as necessary to prevent attempts to impose on political parties.

The communiqué expressed appreciation to Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, for hosting the summit.