Claim: Social media posts and circulating images claim that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, is preparing to step down amid mounting pressure to resign, fearing for his life and that of his family before and after the 2027 elections.
Verdict: False
Full story
A post circulating on social media claimed that the INEC chairman is resigning. The post, which has triggered widespread reactions, was traced to a Facebook account belonging to one Hon. Alvin Idamieibi Igoni-Benstowe. He alleged that, according to leaked insider reports from one of the chairman’s closest allies, Amupitan was terrified by the recent unexpected incidents, particularly the confrontation that occurred in a law-abiding society abroad.
The Facebook post has generated over 7,000 reactions.
The post read in full: “Breaking. INEC chairman set to resign after recent attacks home and abroad
“The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission is facing mouting pressure to resign fearing the worst for his life and family in and after 2027 elections.
“After series of backlash against the chairman for electoral compromises, especially against opposition parties, leading up to the 2027 presidential election, the chairman recently escaped an att@ck from angry Nigerian youths abroad who chanted “rig & die” at the electoral body’s chairman.
“The angry youths also blocked his vehicle surrounded by security men from leaving the vicinity.
“One of the visibly angry youths could also be heard yelling at Amupitan and saying, “this is not 2023, it’s rig and die, I no dey fear your papa”.
“According to leaked inside reports from one of the closest allies of the INEC chairman, the chairman was terrified by these recent unexpected incidents especially the one that happened in a lawful society like abroad.
“His close aide who spoke in anonymity revealed that professor Amupitan is now considering a possible resignation to save his life and family fearing the unknown in the 2027 general elections.”
The post could also be seen here, here, here, and here.
Recent Protest in London
The false resignation claim circulated shortly after a high-profile confrontation involving Amupitan in London.
On Thursday, 12 November 2026, Amupitan attended a panel discussion at Chatham House titled ‘Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot’. As he left the venue, a group of Nigerian diaspora protesters surrounded the vehicle conveying him. They shouted demands for his resignation, accused INEC of bias and irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register, and called on him to come out and address them.
The protesters raised concerns about alleged duplicate registrations, suspected AI-generated photographs, and other issues in the continuous voter registration exercise. Some accused the commission of favouring the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Amupitan remained in the vehicle and did not respond publicly to the demonstrators during the confrontation.
Official Denial
On Saturday, 14 November 2026, INEC issued a clear statement on its official X account dismissing the claim. The commission described the circulating report (which included an image) as fabricated and misleading.
INEC urged the public to disregard the report, stop sharing unverified information, and rely only on the commission’s official communication channels for authentic updates.
Conclusion
The claim that Amupitan is “set to resign” is false.
It appears to be a fabricated social media report that gained traction after the London protest, where demonstrators demanded his resignation.
