Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has alleged that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, is acting under the influence of President Bola Tinubu.

Obi made the remarks in a short interview clip shared on News Central Television, where he strongly criticised the independence of Nigeria’s electoral system.

The former Anambra State governor described the current electoral process as deeply compromised, suggesting that INEC operates in alignment with the presidency.

“If anybody had told me that we could use Professors to run our elections and it would be worse, I would have said a capital no,” Obi said.

He added that he had personally written to the INEC Chairman, warning him about the temporary nature of his office and urging him to uphold integrity in his duties.

“I wrote to the present INEC Chairman and said, ‘Remember, you will not be here forever,’” he stated.

When asked whether he believed INEC functions as an agent of the president, Obi responded affirmatively, insisting that the commission’s actions reflect presidential influence.

“Yes, completely. Whatever the INEC Chairman is doing today, he is acting the script written by the man who employed him,” he said.

His comments are expected to intensify ongoing political debates over the neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral body ahead of future elections.

Meanwhile, political commentator Umar Ardo has also weighed in on Nigeria’s shifting political alliances, cautioning opposition figures including Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Ardo, who promotes the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), said he had previously warned both politicians against aligning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party whose legal status he claims remains contested.

Speaking on Arise News Morning Show, he noted that his opposition to the party’s registration began shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission approved it on February 6.

The latest exchanges highlight growing political tensions and early positioning ahead of Nigeria’s future electoral cycle.