The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has declared that his loyalty is solely to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, insisting that he will lead the electoral body without political bias.

Amupitan made the declaration on Thursday while responding to questions about his neutrality at Chatham House in London, during a high-level dialogue organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).

The event was held under the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot”.

His comments followed controversy surrounding an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly linked to him, which reportedly published a partisan post expressing support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.

INEC had, however, denied that Amupitan operated the account, describing the allegations as a case of digital impersonation.

Responding to the controversy at Chatham House, the INEC chairman denied operating an X account and said an independent forensic review had been obtained. He added that the matter had been formally referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.

Dismissing concerns about his impartiality, Amupitan said his allegiance was to the country’s legal framework rather than any political interest.

“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” he declared.

“Every constitutional institution—including the Presidency, the National Assembly, and state governors—owes its primary loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The INEC chairman also dismissed suggestions that his previous legal representation in political disputes could compromise his neutrality. He explained that he had acted strictly within his professional responsibilities as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) before his appointment.

Amupitan urged Nigerians to have confidence in his leadership and its capacity to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. He pointed to improvements recorded in recent off-cycle elections and the technical safeguards introduced by the commission.

He acknowledged that the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had significantly undermined public confidence in INEC.

“First and foremost, let me speak about what happened in 2023, which resulted in a significant trust deficit for INEC—damage so large that the Commission has not yet fully recovered from it,” he said.

He added that the commission had learnt important lessons from subsequent elections, including those conducted in Anambra and Osun states, where results were declared the day after voting.

Amupitan also identified insecurity, logistics, and result management as the commission’s major priorities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing allegations of irregularities in the voters’ register, including claims that the number of registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State had increased by 85 per cent, he said INEC had investigated and resolved the complaint in accordance with statutory procedures.

He noted that the Electoral Act provides for periods within which members of the public can submit claims and objections, as well as request certified true copies of the voters’ register.

The INEC chairman also urged Nigerian youths to remain actively involved in the democratic process, warning against the dangers of misinformation.

“This country belongs to young Nigerians, and they must not relent in working for the Nigeria they desire,” he said.

“Misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Citizens must verify information before acting or sharing, and give our democracy the chance to succeed.”