Media Group calls for removal of Amupitan as INEC Chairman
By KEMI KASUMU
The MMWG accused Amupitan of presenting what it termed falsehoods and misleading narratives against Nigeria for personal gain.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called for the removal of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over allegations that he authored a report portraying Nigeria negatively to the United States government.
The call followed the circulation of what the group described as a leaked document allegedly written by Amupitan in 2022, while he was at the University of Jos, which it claimed contributed to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the administration of former United States President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued on Friday, January 30, 2026, after its General Assembly and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Yusuf Agbabiaka, the MMWG accused Amupitan of presenting what it termed falsehoods and misleading narratives against Nigeria for personal gain.
According to the group, the legal brief allegedly authored by Amupitan and titled “Genocide in Nigeria – The Implication for the International Community” contained claims that portrayed the Nigerian government in a bad light and misrepresented the country’s security situation.
The MMWG described the reported actions of the United States government as misguided, arguing that they were based on what it called an inaccurate and ill-motivated report. It claimed that the document contributed to international pressure on Nigeria and heightened tension and insecurity among Nigerians at home and abroad.
Condemning the alleged report, the group stated that anyone who could author such a document lacked the credibility to hold a sensitive public office such as the chairmanship of INEC. It maintained that Amupitan was neither qualified nor competent to occupy the position, given the allegations against him.
The group further argued that Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, had been significantly addressed by successive administrations, noting that the government under former President Muhammadu Buhari recorded major gains between 2015 and 2020. It added that the administrations of Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had continued to commit substantial resources to tackling insecurity, with security budgets remaining among the highest in recent years.
On inter-religious relations, the MMWG said Muslims and Christians in Nigeria had largely coexisted peacefully, supported by ongoing interfaith dialogue initiatives. It cited the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), coordinated by the Federal Government, as a platform that had helped promote understanding between religious communities.
The group also rejected claims that Christians were the primary targets of insecurity in Nigeria, asserting that Muslims constituted a significant proportion of victims of violence in several northern states, with extensive loss of lives and destruction of property.
The MMWG questioned why an academic of Amupitan’s standing would allegedly produce what it described as a false report, insisting that the revelation of the document, even after his confirmation by the Senate, was sufficient grounds for his removal.
The group called on the National Assembly to investigate the alleged 80-page report and advise the President on Amupitan’s suitability to continue as INEC chairman. It added that Nigerian Muslims no longer had confidence in him and urged the Federal Government to appoint another Christian whom it described as tolerant, responsible and committed to national unity.
Professor Amupitan has not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
