Political commentator Shehu Gazali Sadiq has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to resign if he cannot guarantee a free and fair 2027 general election.
Sadiq made the call in a post on X, warning the INEC chairman against any action that could undermine the credibility of the next presidential election.
He alleged that efforts had been made to pressure Amupitan to resign but claimed the INEC chairman had refused to step down.
Sadiq drew a sharp comparison between the forthcoming election and the 2023 general election, arguing that the political atmosphere ahead of 2027 is significantly different.
“Amupitan should know that this is not 2023 election where Mahmoud Yakubu did whatever he likes,” Sadiq wrote.
He described the 2027 election as a potential “revolution to take back our country,” while urging the INEC chairman to pay attention to the political mood among young Nigerians supporting different candidates.
The commentator issued a direct warning against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 presidential election in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Any attempt to rig the election for Tinubu will not end well,” he stated.
Sadiq further urged Amupitan to consider the consequences of any decisions taken by the electoral commission, telling the INEC chairman to “think about himself and his family and do the right thing.”
The comments represent Sadiq’s political warning and do not establish that Amupitan or INEC intends to rig the 2027 election.
Amupitan, who succeeded Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman in October 2025, has publicly sought to assure Nigerians and political parties about the commission’s neutrality.
In August 2026, he assured political parties and Nigerians that INEC would not favour any candidate or political party in the 2027 general elections.
His appointment followed his nomination by President Tinubu and confirmation by the Senate. INEC records identify him as the commission's chairman and say he assumed the position after succeeding Yakubu.
Calls for greater scrutiny of Amupitan have emerged as political tensions surrounding the 2027 election increase. Sadiq himself has previously called for the INEC chairman's resignation, while other groups and commentators have also questioned whether Amupitan can command sufficient public confidence ahead of the election.
The debate comes as INEC prepares for the 2027 electoral cycle, with the credibility, independence and neutrality of the commission expected to remain major issues for political parties, civil society groups and voters.
For now, there is no established evidence in the sources reviewed that Amupitan has agreed to resign or that INEC is planning to manipulate the 2027 election for any candidate. His publicly stated position remains that the commission will not favour any candidate or party.
Comments
Post a Comment