The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, citing concerns over public confidence in the electoral body amid renewed scrutiny of his past public positions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the organisation said public unease had intensified following the resurfacing of a legal brief authored by Professor Amupitan in 2020, which reportedly framed Nigeria’s security challenges in religious terms and advocated international intervention.
MPAC said the controversy surrounding the document had raised questions not about the INEC chairman’s professional competence, but about public trust in his ability to oversee elections in a politically and religiously diverse country.
The group noted that INEC’s mandate extends beyond administrative efficiency to include moral neutrality and a public record capable of inspiring confidence across all segments of society. It described the commission as the custodian of Nigerians’ belief that every vote carries equal value, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
Signed by MPAC Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the statement warned that retaining a figure perceived as controversial at the helm of INEC could deepen existing social divisions and undermine confidence in the credibility of future elections. It added that in a nation grappling with polarization and historical grievances, public trust in electoral institutions remains critical to national stability.
MPAC therefore called on Professor Amupitan to step aside “in the interest of national cohesion, democratic credibility, and institutional integrity,” stressing that the call was not a judgment on his intellect or intentions but a reflection of the sensitivity of the office he occupies.
The organisation further urged the Federal Government to replace the INEC chairman should he decline to resign, describing such action as a constitutional duty rather than a concession to public pressure.
“Nigeria’s democratic challenge is not a shortage of capable individuals, but a deficit of public trust,” the statement said, cautioning against decisions that could further erode confidence in the electoral process.
MPAC also warned against Nigeria’s elections becoming arenas for religious contestation, noting that when the neutrality of electoral umpires is questioned, the credibility of the entire process is put at risk.