A former top official of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has joined growing calls for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, over allegations that he lied about not owning a controversial X (formerly Twitter) handle linked to partisan posts.
In a strongly worded statement titled “On Amupitan, INEC, Elections and Trust,” John Aikpokpo-Martins, former NBA 1st Vice President, described the INEC chairman as unfit to superintend the nation’s electoral process if the denial proves false.
“I may understand that the INEC chairman made all those tweets in the past and may be forgiven. However, if it turns out that he lied when he denied his Twitter handle, that is conclusive proof that he is a dishonourable man and not to be trusted in any matter, particularly superintending an electoral process,” Aikpokpo-Martins said.
He added, “The Honourable thing to do therefore would be to resign or be forced out for lying to and trying to deceive Nigerians. Furthermore, his act of changing the name of his handle if proven to be true, is an act of high deception and possible forgery or tampering with evidence, making him not fit for purpose as INEC chairman.”
The former NBA leader further suggested legal action if the chairman maintains his denial despite available evidence.
“If he insists that the handle is not his in the light of all the proofs now available, he should be sued along with X Corps (owners of X formerly Twitter). Let him come and depose on oath that he is not the owner of that twitter handle and commit possible perjury,” Aikpokpo-Martins stated.
The controversy erupted after old tweets from an account bearing Amupitan’s name surfaced online, including partisan comments perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and critical of opponents during the 2023 elections.
INEC has firmly denied that the chairman owns or operates any personal X account, describing the claims as “baseless” and a “fabrication” aimed at undermining the commission’s credibility.
The development comes amid broader criticisms of INEC’s handling of recent political matters, including the delisting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and adds to earlier calls from some quarters for Amupitan’s removal.
Aikpokpo-Martins’ intervention represents a significant voice from the legal community joining the chorus of prominent Nigerians questioning the INEC chairman’s integrity and suitability for the role ahead of future electoral exercises.
