By Kingston Magare 6.4.2026
Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has been accused of open bias by allegedly and wrongfully interpreting a court ruling to knock off the leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
According to Joemartins Uzodike a member of the ADC, stated that as a Professor of Law, Amupitan because of his calculated attempt to help the ruling party All Progressives Congress has made himself a joke of the legal profession.
Mr. Uzodike who is also a lawyer was speaking against background of INEC not recognising David Mark and others as leaders of the ADC based a court ruling a leadership dispute brought up by Nafiu Bala Gombe who claimed to be the authentic chairman of the ADC.
He said the INEC was relying on order by an individual, thereby displaying what he described as deliberate ignorance of the law, particularly the meaning and application of status quo ante bellum.
According to him, the action of the INEC chairman had brought serious embarrassment to the legal system, accusing him of using a court order to create a leadership vacuum in an opposition political party.
“Amupitan has failed Nigerians even before the election. 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,” said Uzodike.
“The chairman is a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. How can he not interpret the meaning of status quo ante bellum, which means to return to the position before the matter went to court?
“At what point was the ADC before Nafiu Bala went to court, and who was the chairman at that time?
“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.”