The National Council of State swiftly approved President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday. Yakubu’s reign was coming to an end, and it was time to replace him. He nearly completed his two 10-year terms after being appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, his adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu nominated Amupitan to the NCS to take over the role.
At the meeting, which took place in the Council Chambers of State House in Abuja, the president informed the council members that Amupitan was the first Kogi, North-central, resident to be nominated for the post. The nomination received unanimous council support, and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo praised Amupitan as a man of integrity.
Tinubu is supposed to submit Amupitan’s nomination to the Senate for consideration and eventual confirmation in accordance with the constitution. Amupitan, a 58-year-old law professor at the University of Jos, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Kogi State’s Ijumu Local Government Area. He graduated from the institution as well. He was born on April 25, 1967, and his areas of expertise are corporate governance, privatisation law, law of evidence, and company law. In September 2014, he was appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Following his completion of elementary and high school, he went to the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987 and Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin from 1982 to 1984. In 1988, he was admitted to the bar.
His academic career began in 1989 after he completed his National Youth Service in the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989. He obtained an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007.
Amupitan is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State, in addition to his role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
He served in a number of academic capacities at UNIJOS, including Head of Public Law (2006-2008), Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014).
In addition to his academic positions, Amupitan was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014). From 1996 to 2004, he served on the board of Riss Oil Limited in Abuja.
The professor is the author of numerous legal volumes, including Principles of Company Law (2013), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He has four children and is married. Concerned about Amupitan’s selection, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) decided to give him the benefit of the doubt over his performance.
Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, issued a succinct statement saying, “We are cautious.” However, we anticipate that the new INEC chairman would be personally motivated to do better and win back the trust of Nigerians and the international community in the country’s election. He needs to realize that the Nigerian people, not the government, are the object of his allegiance. Given his history, we are prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, he now has the choice to build a solid reputation that his kids would be proud of or to ruin his record and become an embarrassment. “He should also keep in mind that his tenure will typically last beyond one electoral cycle.” Therefore, he ought to consider more than just the interests of his assigned people.
However, the Kogi State government and populace conveyed their sincere gratitude to Tinubu for selecting Amupitan as the new INEC chairman. “This appointment is a strong validation of President Tinubu’s commitment to excellence, merit, and national inclusivity in the leadership of our democratic institutions,” said Kingsley Fanwo, the information commissioner.
His distinguished career as a distinguished legal scholar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and esteemed administrator is evidence of Prof. Amupitan’s ability to be unbiased, honest, and intellectually deep, qualities that are essential to the development of our democratic system.
“We assure Mr President and the entire country, on behalf of the Government and the good people of Kogi State, that Prof. Amupitan will continue to uphold the confidence placed in him and continue to honour the state and Nigeria through his commitment to transparent and credible elections. “We pray for divine wisdom, strength, and success as Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, takes on this important responsibility, and we sincerely congratulate him on this well-earned national assignment. “Steve Karimi, the senator for the Kogi West Senatorial District, also praised Tinubu for the appointment. He claimed that Tinubu selected one of Nigeria’s best academics, most exacting legal investigators, seasoned administrators, and nonpartisan patriots. “I am personally pleased that Mr President has looked to my senatorial district to appoint an exceptionally well-known scholar, a man of distinction and integrity, to serve as the nation’s electoral ombudsman,” he stated.
Amupitan received congratulations on his nomination from Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State. Mutfwang characterised Amupitan as a leader, a strategic thinker, a towering personality, and a patriotic Nigerian whose contributions have shaped the nation’s progress toward democracy and good government. “Amupitan has continued to educate generations, shape public policy, and enrich the nation’s intellectual landscape through his pen and podium,” Mutfwang said. He thanked Tinubu for recognizing the North-Central geopolitical zone with the significant appointment and for considering him deserving of the national assignment. With divine guidance and the abundance of expertise the new INEC chairman brought to the table, the governor promised the president that he would carry out the mission with excellence and integrity.
The nominee is “a man of courage, integrity, and conviction,” according to Mr. Ayo Olowonihi, a retired Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who grew up with Amupitan. “He is a dedicated fellow,” said Olowonihi. Professor Amupitan is expected to provide Nigerians with an electoral procedure that enables them to actually choose their leaders. His legacy will be characterised by openness and equity. He will make sure that due process is followed and that justice is served within the commission’s own procedures; he is not the type of chairman who will order people to “go to court.”
Olowonihi stated, “He is a man of great courage and principle,” emphasising the value of moral courage in running an organization such as INEC. No matter who bears the brunt of the decision, Professor Amupitan never backs down from making difficult choices. Someone who can stand up for what is right, even when things are tough, is what the INEC position requires. Since he is not easily influenced, we are confident that he will elevate the commission’s reputation and integrity.
Olowonihi concurred that Tinubu’s selection of Amupitan demonstrated an awareness of the type of leadership Nigeria required to fortify its democratic institutions.
“The job at INEC is one of the hardest in the country, but the more difficult it gets, the harder he will work,” he remarked. “I am confident that Amupitan would elevate INEC to a new level. Nigerians are hopeful that the commission will become genuinely independent, open, and trustworthy as a result of his appointment.
Likewise, Amupitan received heartfelt congratulations from the Obidient Movement.
According to a statement released by the Obidient Movement’s Director of Strategic Communications and Media, Nana Kazaure, and National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, they were optimistic that Amupitan’s term would be a landmark in Nigeria’s electoral history, as they considered the experiences of the previous INEC chief.
They anticipated a new electoral act that would improve the legitimacy, liberty, and equity of election administration.
The group said, “We hope that your term will be a major turning point in Nigeria’s election history as we consider the experiences of previous INEC chairmen. Before the general election in 2027, we anticipate a new electoral act that will improve the legitimacy, liberty, and equity of our elections. “We pray for God’s protection and direction as you face the difficulties of this important position, and we wish you a successful tenure.
According to the Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum, Amupitan’s appointment will boost Nigerians’ self-esteem and act as a spur for legitimate elections. According to a statement from its chairman, Dr. Dominic Alancha, the well-earned appointment is a major step in bolstering Nigeria’s democratic institutions and reviving public trust in the electoral process.
