Nigerians have staged a protest outside Chatham House in London, demanding the removal of Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The protesters reportedly organised the demonstration on Thursday, November 12, 2026, coinciding with Amupitan’s appearance at the London-based international affairs institution.
A video circulating online shows demonstrators expressing opposition to Amupitan’s leadership of INEC ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Their protest featured demands for accountability, transparency and credible electoral preparations.
The demonstrators raised concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly allegations surrounding irregularities in the voter register.
They also questioned INEC’s handling of issues involving artificial intelligence-generated images allegedly appearing in voter registration records.
The controversy has generated growing public debate about the commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
Protest Coincides With Amupitan’s Chatham House Appearance
Amupitan appeared at Chatham House on Thursday for a discussion titled, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
The engagement was organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
During the discussion, the INEC chairman acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections had damaged public confidence.
He insisted that the commission was implementing improvements to strengthen electoral credibility.
Amupitan also urged Nigerians to trust his leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
He cited improvements recorded during recent off-cycle elections, including the Anambra and Osun governorship elections.
He further referenced the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and legislative by-elections.
Questions Over Electoral Transparency
The demonstration reflects continuing concerns among sections of the Nigerian public about INEC’s independence and preparedness.
The controversy surrounding alleged AI-generated voter registration images has intensified demands for greater transparency.
Some opposition parties and electoral stakeholders have also called for independent scrutiny of the voter register.
INEC has previously acknowledged irregularities involving 268 voter registration records. The commission attributed the affected records to registration officials who allegedly misused their credentials.
The protesters’ demands place additional public attention on Amupitan’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission faces the challenge of demonstrating transparency, institutional independence and public confidence.
Watch the protest video:
This Dawn News will continue monitoring developments surrounding INEC and preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
