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Abuja, September 16, 2026 – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday clarified the whereabouts of its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), stating that he is currently outside Abuja on an official assignment and has the authority to delegate his duties to any National Commissioner.
The clarification came after the Obidient Movement raised public concerns over Amupitan’s absence from the commission’s headquarters.
The group questioned why National Commissioner Professor Rhoda Gumus appeared as Acting Chairman during a meeting with an African Union (AU) Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission on Tuesday, September 15.
The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen, visited INEC headquarters in Abuja as part of its assessment of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. The mission is scheduled to run from September 13 to 19.
In a statement, the Obidient Movement’s National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said there had been no official public communication about Amupitan handing over his duties. “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,” the statement read. “This raises legitimate questions about the Chairman’s current location, official schedule and the circumstances surrounding his absence.”
The group demanded details on when Amupitan left Abuja, the purpose of his absence, who authorised it, whether he had travelled outside Nigeria, and his official engagements. It also asked whether he had met or was scheduled to meet President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), or any representative of the ruling party. The movement stressed that transparency was essential given INEC’s central role in elections and the need to maintain public confidence ahead of the 2027 polls.
Responding to the concerns, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, confirmed that the Chairman was on official duties. “The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” she said.
INEC’s official social media accounts supported this account. Posts showed Amupitan in Ottawa, Canada, last Friday, where he met Google Global Lead for Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez, accompanied by INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections. Amupitan also held discussions with senior officials from Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems on emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence for electoral processes. He addressed the conference, sharing Nigeria’s experience in institutionalising responsible AI for electoral administration.
An INEC official, speaking anonymously, described the controversy as “a non-issue.” The official asked: “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.”
Amupitan, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kogi State, was appointed INEC Chairman by President Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate in October 2025, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu. His leadership has faced scrutiny amid preparations for the 2027 elections, including earlier controversies over alleged social media posts that INEC said were the result of a coordinated disinformation campaign.
The commission’s prompt clarification aims to address questions about transparency in its leadership at a time when public trust in the electoral process remains critical. As Nigeria intensifies preparations for the next general elections, stakeholders continue to emphasise the need for openness and accountability from the electoral umpire.
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