“Resign Now”: ADC Chieftain Slams INEC Chairman
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Joemartins Uzodike, has called for the immediate resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, accusing him of bias and incompetence in handling the Commission’s withdrawal of recognition from the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Uzodike, a legal practitioner, described the INEC chairman’s pronouncements on the ADC leadership crisis as “disgraceful and mischievous,” alleging that the Commission’s interpretation of a court order demonstrated deliberate ignorance of legal principles, particularly the doctrine of status quo ante bellum. The Latin term refers to restoring parties to their positions prior to the commencement of legal proceedings.
“I have been around in this country since independence and have actively participated in many elections. I make bold to say that an electoral umpire has never descended so brazenly and carelessly into the arena as we are witnessing now,” Uzodike stated.
The controversy stems from INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition from the Mark-led faction following a court order submitted by Nafiu Bala, whom Uzodike claims “neither has a secretary nor leads any known executive committee.” The ADC chieftain argued that the court merely directed that whoever held office before Bala initiated legal action should remain pending final determination of the matter, yet INEC interpreted this as nullifying the party’s existence entirely.
“The court simply said whoever was in office should remain pending the determination of the matter, but Amupitan’s INEC is saying the ADC does not exist,” Uzodike said. “At what point was the ADC before Nafiu Bala went to court, and who was the chairman at that time?”
Uzodike questioned how a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria could misinterpret such a fundamental legal concept, stating that the chairman’s actions had “brought serious embarrassment to the legal system” and created a leadership vacuum within an opposition political party through judicial manipulation.
The lawyer further alleged that Amupitan’s televised remarks revealed external pressure influencing his decisions. “From his demeanour during the TV interview, it is clear that the INEC chairman is not acting independently. For someone who has risen to the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, a professor and SAN, he should be a man of honour,” Uzodike added.
He urged the chairman to focus on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions rather than, in his view, serving vested interests, concluding that Amupitan had “failed the law” and demonstrated incapacity to preside over electoral affairs impartially.
The ADC has faced persistent leadership disputes, with Senator David Mark, former Senate President, and Ralph Nwosu previously contesting control of the party’s structures. INEC’s intervention marks a significant escalation in the electoral body’s involvement in internal party governance, a development opposition figures warn could undermine multi-party democracy.