The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed reports circulating on social media that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is planning to resign from office.

The commission described the claim, which was shared alongside an image online, as false and misleading.

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INEC issued the clarification on Saturday through a statement on its official X account, urging Nigerians to disregard the report and avoid spreading unverified information.

“The claim is FALSE, FABRICATED AND MISLEADING,” the commission stated.

It advised members of the public to obtain accurate information about its activities and leadership through its verified communication channels.

The denial comes amid mounting scrutiny of Amupitan’s leadership following controversies surrounding the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

On November 9, the INEC chairman announced that the commission had removed 1,608,660 invalid registrations from the preliminary register after reviewing entries from the 2025 and 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercises.

He also disclosed that 54 individuals across 10 states had been identified over alleged registration irregularities and could face disciplinary measures, including prosecution.

The commission had received complaints involving suspected multiple registrations, questionable photographs and other irregularities in the voters’ register.

The controversy followed Amupitan to London, where protesters confronted his vehicle outside Chatham House on Thursday and demanded his resignation.

The protesters surrounded the vehicle as he departed an engagement on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 elections, with some calling on him to address their concerns.

During the Chatham House discussion, Amupitan acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections had significantly weakened public confidence in INEC.

He, however, urged Nigerians to trust his leadership, saying the commission had introduced measures to address previous shortcomings and improve the credibility of future elections.

Amupitan also announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28 to test improvements to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic transmission of results ahead of the 2027 polls.

He said technical safeguards had been introduced to prevent inaccurate polling unit results and figures suggesting over-voting from being uploaded to the commission’s Result Viewing Portal.

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The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.