Amupitan on official assignment outside Abuja – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is currently on an official assignment outside Abuja. According to INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, Amupitan has the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner.

This response was provided in answer to questions raised by the Obidient Movement, which demanded an explanation regarding the Chairman's whereabouts following National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus's appearance as Acting Chairman at a meeting with an African Union delegation. The movement questioned why there was no official announcement regarding Amupitan's handover, and whether he had traveled outside Nigeria for his engagements.

INEC's involvement in activities outside Nigeria, including a meeting with Google's Global Lead, David J. Lopez, in Ottawa, Canada, supports the commission's claim that Amupitan's absence is related to his official duties.