…CSOs kick
.Say nominee, ‘Amupitan served as a lead counsel for the ruling APC and yourself at the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’
By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The appointment was announced yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, following the National Council of State’s approval of the nomination.
According to the statement,
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical”.
The statement added that “Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity”.
In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.
Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He is also an alumnus of the university.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
Earlier, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, under the aegis of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, COCSON, has appealed to the president to reject the nomination of nominees as INEC chairman.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Centre for Electoral Integrity, Mrs Aisha Salami,
stated that rejecting the nominee would enable Tinubu safeguard his legacy.
The statement issued in Abuja on 6th October, 2025, by the COCSON, a foremost network dedicated to the promotion of democracy, good governance, and electoral integrity, said it has noted with deep concern the media reports indicating the imminent nomination of Prof. Joseph Olusola Amupitan, SAN, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“We begin by acknowledging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, throughout his political career, presented himself as a staunch defender of democracy and a listening leader. Since assuming office, his administration has shown commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy across various sectors. It is precisely this record that we seek to protect.
“Mr. President, your legacy is being carefully written. An appointment of this magnitude will define your commitment to electoral integrity for generations to come. We therefore appeal to your renowned democratic spirit to carefully consider the profound implications of this choice.
“The reported nomination of Prof. Amupitan, for the following reasons, risks fundamentally tainting your good name and the credibility of your administration”, it stated.
While noting that Amupitan’s appointment is a risk to the president’s legacy, it stared that: “Prof. Amupitan served as a lead counsel for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and yourself at the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Mr. President, appointing your own personal lawyer to oversee future elections, including one you may contest, would be widely perceived as placing a partisan actor in the role of a neutral umpire”.
“This would inevitably cast a shadow over your hard-earned reputation as a democrat”.
It also stated that Amupitan’s appointment is a contradiction to democratic principles, noting that “A core dividend of democracy is a truly independent electoral commission. This appointment would be framed nationally and internationally as cronyism, directly contradicting the democratic principles you have long championed and undermining public trust in the institution”.
It further stressed that the appointee lacks requisite experience, stating “Your administration has been marked by a push for technocratic competence. Prof. Amupitan, while a distinguished academic and lawyer, has no practical experience in the colossal logistical and administrative enterprise of conducting elections. This gap does not align with your stated commitment to merit and efficiency”.
The group therefore urged Tinubu to a better path to
uphold his legacy by choosing an Internal INEC person as the Commission’s chairman.
“We strongly believe that a legacy-defining opportunity exists here. By appointing a seasoned professional from within INEC’s ranks, you, Mr. President, would be hailed as a true statesman who prioritized national interest over personal allegiance”.
Among the reasons presented by the group why an internal appointment is the most prudent course include: “Demonstrates a Commitment to Merit: It would show that competence and institutional knowledge are the primary criteria for this role, silencing critics and bolstering your administration’s image”.
“Ensures Immediate Operational Continuity: An internal chairman can seamlessly oversee the imminent off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states, ensuring stability and competence.
“Preserves INEC’s Institutional Memory: It safeguards the valuable systems and processes developed over the years, ensuring that past lessons are not lost.
“Boosts Morale and Promotes Meritocracy: It rewards dedication within the public service, motivating the entire commission and stemming the brain drain of experienced officials.
“Guarantees an Apolitical Profile: Career INEC officials are mandated to be non-partisan, offering a clean break from any perception of political bias.
“Signals Genuine Electoral Reform: This would be the most powerful signal that your administration is serious about reforming INEC from within, building a legacy of credible elections.
“Strengthens National Cohesion: It would foster greater public trust and acceptance of election outcomes, reducing political tension and strengthening our democracy”.
The group therefore appealed to the president to jettison the reported plan to appoint Prof. Joseph Amupitan.
It urged the president to choose the path of legacy by initiating a transparent process to select a new INEC Chairman from within the pool of current, non-partisan, and experienced National Commissioners; and
safeguard his good name and the nation’s democratic future by making an appointment that is beyond reproach.
It urged the president not allow a single appointment to undermine the democratic dividends he is working to deliver.
“We urge you to choose credibility, and in doing so, secure your legacy as the president, who cemented Nigeria’s electoral integrity”, it stated.
