Former presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has demanded the immediate resignation of Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of manipulating the recently released 2027 election timetable to favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Olawepo-Hashim, in a statement issued on Saturday, rejected the adjusted schedule for party primaries released by INEC on February 26, 2026, claiming that the commission has no constitutional authority to dictate when political parties conduct internal nominations, provided statutory deadlines for candidate submissions are met.
“It’s not the business of INEC to dictate to parties when they should conduct nominations of candidates for elections,” he said. “This shows that Amupitan cannot be trusted. It’s either he resigns or Nigerians will embark on mass action to force him out. He should not be allowed to stay a day longer in that office.”
The former candidate alleged that the earlier scheduling of primaries was a deliberate move to weaken opposition parties, many of which are dealing with internal disputes and court cases. He accused the INEC chairman of engineering the timeline to favor the APC at the expense of other political challengers.
INEC has defended the revised timetable, maintaining that its adjustments including deadlines for party primaries and candidate submissions are necessary to ensure orderly conduct and compliance with the Electoral Act.
Olawepo-Hashim countered that while INEC is responsible for setting general election dates and submission timelines, the timing of party primaries remains an internal party matter. “INEC is not a headmaster that can impose what it wants on political parties,” he said.
He further warned that public trust in the electoral body is essential for credible elections, arguing that rushed or biased administrative decisions risk undermining democratic choice. “For us to have an acceptable, free and fair election in 2027, INEC has to be reconstituted,” he said, referencing perceived failings in recent local council elections in Abuja.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates in Nigeria over the independence and neutrality of INEC, and the issue is expected to dominate public discourse as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections.