Prof. Joash Amupitan Appointed INEC Chairman Amid Calls for Reform and Credibility
Professor Joash Amupitan’s appointment as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set the stage for a major leadership test, as he takes charge of an institution struggling with controversies, waning voter confidence, and mounting pressure to deliver credible elections.
The National Council of State on Thursday unanimously endorsed the Kogi-born legal scholar during its meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja. He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure ended on Tuesday.
President Bola Tinubu said his choice of Amupitan was guided by the nominee’s integrity, apolitical disposition, and record of public service. “Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State, in the North-Central region, to be nominated as INEC Chairman, and he is apolitical,” said a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Following the Council’s approval, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.
Aged 58, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, he currently serves as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
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Political Parties React
Political parties have urged the new INEC boss to rebuild public trust through transparency, neutrality, and comprehensive reform.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) cautioned Amupitan to remain loyal to Nigerians rather than to political interests. “His loyalty must be to the Nigerian people, not the government,” said ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. “We’re giving him the benefit of the doubt based on his track record, but this is his chance to write his name in gold or end up in infamy.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed similar sentiments, urging Amupitan to embark on internal cleansing and sweeping electoral reforms. PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said the appointment should not be seen as an opportunity for personal gain. “This is a national call to service,” he said. “He must realise that his allegiance lies with Nigerians whose taxes fund the Commission.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), however, expressed confidence in the appointment. Its Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said, “Professor Amupitan was chosen on merit. We expect him to strengthen electoral reforms and build greater public confidence in INEC’s impartiality.”
Opposition Leaders Set Agenda
Opposition figures also reacted to the appointment with cautious optimism. Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, urged Amupitan to begin his tenure with comprehensive electoral reforms.
“The first step should be to overhaul the electoral system,” Obi said through his aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko. “He must follow the law without fear or favour and resist political pressure, even from those who appointed him.”
Similarly, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, encouraged Amupitan to learn from the flaws of the 2023 elections. “He should assess INEC’s past performance, identify gaps, and prepare early for the next general elections,” he advised.
Governors, Legal Experts Applaud Appointment
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State hailed the new INEC chairman as “a patriotic Nigerian, strategic thinker, and detribalised leader whose scholarship and intellect have shaped governance and democracy.”
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, also lauded the appointment, describing Amupitan as “a man of integrity and impartiality, with the intellectual depth required to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.”
Legal luminaries have urged Amupitan to uphold transparency, resist political interference, and rebuild trust in the Commission.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, described him as “a resourceful and thorough jurist,” adding, “He must see this as a national call to duty and ensure every vote counts.”
Former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Lekan Ojo (SAN), noted that Amupitan’s background makes him “a fit and proper person” for the role but warned that “his success will depend on transparency and integrity.”
Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), emphasised the need to protect INEC from political control and modernise its operations. “The new Chairman must embrace full digitisation and create open access to electoral data,” he said. “Transparency will reduce litigation and strengthen democracy.”
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Profile
Professor Joash Amupitan earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos after initial studies at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014.
His published works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Beyond academia, Amupitan has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education.
Described by colleagues as “a jurist of quiet influence,” he is married with four children. Upon Senate confirmation, Professor Amupitan will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman.
