The Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) has explained that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is currently outside Abuja on an official assignment.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the Chairman has the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner while away.

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

The clarification followed concerns raised by the Obidient Movement after National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus appeared as Acting Chairman during an engagement with an African Union delegation at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.

The movement, led by its National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, had asked INEC to explain when and why Amupitan handed over his duties, and whether he had travelled outside Nigeria.

However, checks on INEC’s official social media accounts indicated that Amupitan had been engaged in official activities abroad.

He was reported to have been in Ottawa, Canada, where he participated in the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections. During the conference, he reportedly met representatives of Google, Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to discuss emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence in electoral administration.

Amupitan also addressed the conference on Nigeria’s experience with institutionalising responsible AI in election management.

An INEC official who spoke anonymously dismissed the concerns over the Chairman’s absence from Abuja, saying his official duties did not require him to remain physically at the commission’s headquarters.

The development comes as scrutiny of INEC increases ahead of the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders closely monitoring the commission’s preparations and leadership.