Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to launch a credible investigation into allegations that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, operated an X account posting partisan support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

SERAP made the demand via a statement on Monday amid a deepening row over an old X interaction. In March 2023, during the Lagos State elections, the APC national youth leader, Dayo Israel, had posted a boast about winning polling units in an “Igbo-dominated community” where the party had previously struggled.

A reply from an account bearing Amupitan’s name reportedly stated “Victory is sure.” While the original post by Israel was well-documented and widely reported at the time, the attribution of the reply to Amupitan remains contested.

INEC had previously described such claims as fabrications and vowed to pursue those responsible for impersonation or circulation of misleading material. Critics, however, point to digital footprints and the timing of account changes as raising legitimate questions about neutrality.

Reacting, SERAP has called on the National Assembly to launch a credible investigation into the allegations levied against Amupitan, posting partisan support for APC’s Bola Tinubu, including claims of “Victory is sure” and anti-Obidient comments from 2023.

The call invokes constitutional powers under Sections 88-89 for oversight of public institutions and international human rights obligations, aiming to address doubts about INEC’s impartiality and restore public trust in the electoral process.

“We urge the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight functions to conduct credible, impartial, transparent and effective investigations into the serious allegations reportedly made against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on his X (formerly Twitter) account and the plausibility of the response by INEC to the allegations,” SERAP stated.

It argued that these allegations and INEC’s response raise serious concerns about the integrity, impartiality of the electoral commission, and compliance with the rule of law and go to the heart of public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

According to SERAP, the credibility of INEC is essential to the integrity and legitimacy of Nigeria’s electoral process, and any allegations that may undermine this credibility must be promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigated.

As such, it added that the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to conduct this investigation.

“Indeed, under Sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the National Assembly has the power to conduct investigations into the conduct of public officials and institutions including INEC, in order to expose corruption, inefficiency, or abuse of office,” the statement read.

“The exercise of these powers in this case would serve legitimate public interest by ensuring accountability and reinforcing the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“No public official or institution is above scrutiny, and the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are not ignored or swept under the carpet.”

SERAP said the National Assembly also has clear obligations under both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party to intervene in this matter, as the human rights treaties require the lawmakers to conduct a prompt, credible, transparent and effective investigation into cases of this nature.

It stated that the National Assembly should be guided by due process in any investigation and ensure full compliance with constitutional and international fair trial standards, and should make its findings public to restore and maintain public trust in the electoral process.

Transparency in the outcome of the investigation, according to SERAP, is essential to ensuring accountability and restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

It stressed that where there is sufficient admissible evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate measures must be taken in accordance with the law to effectively address any wrongdoing.

SERAP pointed out that the independence and impartiality of INEC are conditions precedent to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Constitution, it stated, guarantees INEC’s autonomy to ensure that electoral decisions are made without undue influence, interference, or bias.

“Where doubts arise regarding the conduct or impartiality of those entrusted with overseeing elections, such concerns must be promptly and transparently addressed by the lawmakers, consistent with their constitutional oath of office,” SERAP added.