The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is away from Abuja on official assignments and continues to discharge his responsibilities despite his absence from the commission’s headquarters.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, gave the explanation following questions raised about the chairman’s whereabouts and the appearance of another National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, in an acting capacity at a recent engagement.
“The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said.
The clarification came after the Obidient Movement sought information on why there had been no public announcement regarding Amupitan’s absence or the delegation of his responsibilities.
The group, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, also requested clarification on whether the INEC chairman was outside Nigeria and, if so, the nature of the official engagements that had taken him away from the commission’s Abuja office.
Tanko said the movement was concerned that neither the public nor stakeholders had been informed of any formal transfer of responsibilities to another commissioner.
According to him, the absence of such information had prompted questions about Amupitan’s location, schedule and the circumstances surrounding his absence.
The movement argued that greater openness was important given INEC’s constitutional mandate to conduct elections and the heightened public interest in the commission’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, details published on INEC’s official social media platforms indicate that Amupitan has recently been undertaking international official engagements.
The chairman was shown in Ottawa, Canada, where he met Google’s Global Lead for Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez. INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, accompanied him during the engagement.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections. At the conference, Amupitan discussed Nigeria’s experience with artificial intelligence in electoral administration.
The INEC chairman also reportedly met senior representatives of Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems as part of his engagements.
Discussions at the meetings focused on emerging technologies, cybersecurity and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, particularly in areas that could contribute to safer and more resilient electoral systems.
A senior INEC official separately dismissed the controversy surrounding Amupitan’s absence from the commission’s headquarters, saying the chairman could perform his official responsibilities while travelling on approved assignments.
The official questioned the assumption that the INEC chairman had to be physically present in Abuja to exercise his functions, noting that duties could be delegated when necessary.
The official said Amupitan was attending a conference where he delivered an address and also held other meetings connected with his responsibilities.
The controversy comes as INEC faces broader questions about its preparations for future elections, including its continued reliance on academics as election officials.
The commission has recently faced scrutiny after more than 600 lecturers from public universities in Northern Nigeria publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
INEC has said it would consider concerns surrounding the participation of lecturers who openly identify with political positions, particularly because university academics are routinely recruited for sensitive electoral responsibilities such as collation and returning officer duties.
The latest debate therefore places renewed attention on transparency, political neutrality and public confidence in the institutions responsible for managing Nigeria’s elections.
