The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the absence of its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, from Abuja, saying he is away on an official assignment and can delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner.
The clarification followed a demand by the Obidient Movement for information about Amupitan’s whereabouts after National Commissioner Prof Rhoda Gumus appeared as Acting Chairman during an engagement with an African Union delegation at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said in a message to a correspondent, “The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner.”
The explanation came a day after the Obidient Movement, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, questioned why there had been no public communication, to its knowledge, explaining Amupitan’s absence and Gumus’s appearance as Acting Chairman.
The group asked INEC to disclose where the chairman was, when he left Abuja and the purpose of his absence.
It also asked whether Amupitan had travelled outside Nigeria and what official engagements he had undertaken.
Public information from INEC subsequently showed that Amupitan had been in Ottawa, Canada, for the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections.
The conference, held from September 9 to 11, brought together election-management bodies, technology experts and international organisations to examine the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence in electoral processes.
During the conference, Amupitan held strategic engagements with Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
He met Microsoft’s Emerging Tech and Cyber Lead, Ethan Chumley, and Programme Manager, Ariana Molina, for discussions on emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence as they relate to electoral processes.
The chairman also met Dr Lisa Poggiali, Chief AI Adviser at IFES, to discuss responsible applications of AI in election administration.
On September 11, Amupitan met Google Global Lead for Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez, in Ottawa. He was accompanied by INEC Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode.
Amupitan also addressed the conference, where he shared Nigeria’s experience and lessons in institutionalising responsible AI for electoral administration.
The documented engagements indicate that the chairman’s absence from Abuja was connected to official activities outside the country.
The Obidient Movement had raised its concerns after Gumus represented Amupitan during the AU Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission’s visit to INEC.
The delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, visited Nigeria to assess the country’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Tanko had also questioned whether Amupitan had met or was scheduled to meet President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress or representatives of the ruling party.
However, there is no publicly established evidence in the information reviewed that Amupitan held such political meetings during the period in question.
The documented activities instead centre on election technology, cybersecurity, responsible AI and international cooperation on electoral administration.
The development comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections and explores the use of emerging technologies in the electoral process.
The commission’s clarification means the chairman’s absence from Abuja was not unexplained: INEC has stated that he was on official assignment and had delegated responsibilities to another National Commissioner during his absence.
