The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the absence of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, from Abuja, saying he is currently away on an official assignment.

The explanation followed questions from the Obidient Movement after INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, appeared as Acting Chairman during an official engagement with an African Union delegation at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said Amupitan was outside Abuja on official duties and had the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner when necessary.

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“The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said in response to enquiries about the development.

The clarification came after the Obidient Movement raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Gumus’ appearance as Acting Chairman during the meeting with the AU Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission.

The delegation, led by former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, was in Nigeria as part of an assessment of preparations for the 2027 general elections. Gumus represented Amupitan during the engagement in Abuja.

 Amupitan’s Official Assignment Explained by INEC

The Obidient Movement, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had called on INEC to provide details about Amupitan’s whereabouts, schedule and official engagements.

Tanko said the group was concerned that, to its knowledge, there had been no public communication explaining when the INEC chairman handed over his responsibilities or why Gumus was acting on his behalf.

The movement also asked whether Amupitan had travelled outside Nigeria and, if so, requested clarification on the official engagements connected with his trip.

Tanko argued that greater transparency was necessary because of INEC’s constitutional responsibility for conducting elections and the importance of public confidence in the commission as the country approaches the 2027 polls.

INEC, however, maintained that Amupitan’s absence from Abuja does not prevent him from performing his responsibilities as chairman, particularly where duties have been delegated to another National Commissioner.

The commission’s response indicates that Gumus’ appearance at the AU meeting was connected to the chairman’s official absence rather than any change in the leadership of INEC.

Further reports citing INEC’s official social media activities indicated that Amupitan had been involved in official engagements outside Nigeria. One reported engagement placed him in Ottawa, Canada, where he participated in activities connected with the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections.

Reports also said the chairman held meetings with officials from organisations including Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, with discussions focused on issues such as emerging technology, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence in electoral administration.

The development comes at a period of increasing attention on INEC as preparations for the 2027 general elections progress.

The commission has listed the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

For the Obidient Movement, the issue is primarily about communication and public confidence. The group maintained that Nigerians should be informed about significant changes in the commission’s leadership arrangements, particularly when a National Commissioner appears in an acting capacity at an important electoral engagement.

INEC’s position, meanwhile, is that the chairman was away on official duty and could lawfully delegate responsibilities to another National Commissioner.

The clarification has therefore addressed the immediate question over why Amupitan was not present in Abuja, while the debate over how such temporary delegations should be communicated publicly continues.