INEC says Amupitan is away on official assignment

INEC has said its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is away from Abuja on official assignment after questions were raised over his absence from the commission’s headquarters.

The clarification followed concerns from the Obidient Movement after National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus appeared as acting chairman during an engagement with an African Union delegation.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said Amupitan was on official assignment outside Abuja and had the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any national commissioner.

The Obidient Movement had asked the commission to explain the chairman’s location, whether he travelled outside Nigeria and why there had been no public handover notice.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard