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Over 1,000 lawyers sign disqualification petition against Amupitan

“Having previously served as Lead Counsel to the APC, Prof. Amupitan cannot credibly discharge the duties of an INEC Chairman, who must remain impartial in elections involving the APC and other parties,” the association stated.

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A coalition of more than 1,000 lawyers under the umbrella of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has called on the Senate to reject the nomination of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The lawyers, in a letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), alleged that Prof. Amupitan is unfit for the position due to his previous role as Lead Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court.

ALDRAP argued that such political affiliation and professional engagement present a “clear case of bias, conflict of interest, and violation of statutory codes of conduct.

The association’s administrative Secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga, who signed the letter, maintained that the Senate should not proceed with any confirmation hearing for Prof. Amupitan but should instead respond to the President’s letter of nomination by stating that the nominee “does not meet the constitutional and ethical qualifications for the office.

“The Senate must act in line with precedent, as seen in 2021 when it rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie over her affiliation with the APC. Prof. Amupitan’s case falls squarely within that standard of disqualification,” the letter stated.

Citing Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1991, ALDRAP maintained that Prof. Amupitan’s appointment would place him in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.

The group further referenced Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act, 2003, which prohibits the use of prior official or professional positions to gain undue advantage.

“Having previously served as Lead Counsel to the APC, Prof. Amupitan cannot credibly discharge the duties of an INEC Chairman, who must remain impartial in elections involving the APC and other parties,” the association stated.

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Politics

Breaking: Atiku officially joins ADC

Atiku made the announcement on Monday through his X handle, posting a photo of himself holding his ADC membership card with the brief caption, “It’s official.”

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the coalition-backed party he is expected to align with ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku made the announcement on Monday through his X handle, posting a photo of himself holding his ADC membership card with the brief caption, “It’s official.”

His move follows his July resignation from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which had been mired in a prolonged internal crisis.

(Vanguard)

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Politics

Atiku to pick up ADC membership card today

“After that, on Monday, I will be officially in the ADC. Before now, I was not in; you were there before me. Will you accept me?” he asked, to which the crowd responded with a resounding “Yes”.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will today formally register with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and pick up his membership card.

Atiku will register at Jada Ward 1 in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The former vice president hinted at the development during a meeting held on Sunday with the Adamawa State ADC leadership in Yola.

He said: ” In Nigeria as a whole, there is a new political movement, is it not so? Today, the new movement has taken us to where? To the ADC. So, the people of Adamawa and Nigeria, our new party is ADC and our new leaders in Adamawa are here seated.

“After that, on Monday, I will be officially in the ADC. Before now, I was not in; you were there before me. Will you accept me?” he asked, to which the crowd responded with a resounding “Yes”.

He added: “May God allow us to witness Monday. It is tomorrow; we are hopeful to meet tomorrow.”

Until now, there had been doubts over the level of commitment of both Atiku and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the ADC after the opposition coalition they jointly lead adopted the party in July as its platform for the 2027 presidential election.

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INEC Swings into action on Fake PDP Ekiti NWC Resolution

The Commission hereby states unequivocally that the said correspondence did not emanate from the office of the Secretary to the Commission, nor any official channel of INEC.

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The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a correspondence currently in circulation on various platforms, dated November 10, 2025, concerning the Resolution of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) Meeting and postponement of the Ekiti State Congress/Governorship Primary, purported to have been issued and signed by the Secretary to the Commission.

The Commission hereby states unequivocally that the said correspondence did not emanate from the office of the Secretary to the Commission, nor any official channel of INEC.

Preliminary findings indicate that the signature of the Secretary to the Commission was forged by unscrupulous elements.Consequently, the general public, political parties and the media are strongly advised to disregard the contents of the said correspondence in its entirety, as it is fake.

The Commission views this act of forgery and the circulation of false documents as a serious electoral offence and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

INEC wishes to use this medium to appeal to persons engaging in such futile, criminal, and disruptive activities to desist forthwith in the interest of electoral integrity and peace.

Meanwhile, the Commission is collaborating with security agencies to investigate this matter and ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted according to the law.

Mrs. Victoria Eta-MessiDirector, Voter Education and Publicity 21st November, 2025

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