A former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, has alleged that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, signed a pre-dated resignation letter as a condition for his appointment.
Odinkalu made the claim while speaking on governance and electoral independence, raising concerns about the autonomy of the electoral body.
According to him, such an arrangement—if true—could undermine the independence of INEC and affect public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He argued that the credibility of elections depends heavily on the perceived neutrality of the electoral umpire, warning against any form of political influence over the commission.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from INEC or its chairman regarding the allegation.
The claim has sparked debate among political observers and stakeholders, with calls for transparency and clarification to maintain trust in the country’s democratic institutions.