Prof. Joash Amupitan’s appointment as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday sets the stage for a major leadership test, as he inherits an electoral system dogged by controversy, low voter confidence, and pressure to deliver credible elections.

He was appointed following the National Council of State’s unanimous endorsement of the Kogi-born academic during its meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure as INEC Chairman ended on Tuesday.

At the meeting, President Bola Tinubu explained that his choice of Amupitan was based on the latter’s apolitical stance, integrity and impeccable record of service.

“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical,” a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted him as saying.

Council members, including serving and former leaders, backed the nomination, describing the Professor as a man of proven integrity. Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, said Amupitan’s track record “reflects a deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”

Following the council’s approval, the President is expected to transmit 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 professor of law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, he is currently the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). Also, he serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

Political parties, on Thursday, urged Amupitan (SAN) to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process through transparency, neutrality and deep institutional reform.

Reacting to the development, the African Democratic Congress cautioned the new electoral umpire, Chief, to remain loyal to the Nigerian people and not to political interests. This was as the Peoples Democratic Party urged him to prioritise internal cleansing and comprehensive electoral reforms to restore public confidence in the commission.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, however, expressed confidence in Amupitan’s appointment, stating that he was chosen on merit and must demonstrate fairness, integrity, and commitment to sustaining ongoing electoral reforms.

In a statement on Thursday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the new INEC Chair to place his loyalty with the Nigerian people rather than the ruling APC government. Abdullahi emphasised the need to restore public confidence in the nation’s electoral system, saying the coalition party is ready to extend the nominated INEC Chairman the benefit of the doubt. The Coalition expressed hope that Amupitan would perform better.

He stated, “We are cautious. But we expect the new INEC chairman to have a personal ambition to do better and restore the confidence of Nigerians and the world in the Nigerian election.

“He must understand that his loyalty is with the Nigerian people, not the government. We are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt based on his track record. But now he has the opportunity to make a good name for himself that his children would be proud of, or to soil his record and end up with ignominy.

“He should bear in mind also that his tenure will ordinarily last beyond one electoral cycle. He should therefore look beyond the interest of those who have appointed him.”

Meanwhile, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, called on Amupitan to implement reforms that will reinforce and deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH Osadolor stated, “Given his relatively young age at 58, and being someone that fortune has smiled upon among several millions of Nigerians, he should be mindful and conscious of the fact that this appointment is not a time for personal aggrandisement or for him to take his pension and settle himself and his family from the Nigerian common patrimony.”

The PDP youth leader argued that Amupitan is not at the mercy of President Bola Tinubu and what he called the “cabals in Aso Rock that might have recommended him.”

“He should seize the opportunity to write his name in gold. This is a time for him to write his name in gold so that posterity will vindicate him. He should bear in mind that the ultimate people he owes allegiance to are the Nigerian people, who, through taxes, pay his bills.

“The fate of over 200 million Nigerians rests on his shoulders.

“That burden alone should give him sleepless nights, not negatively, but should make him sit up in a way that the overall best interest of Nigerians will be served,” he added.

APC lauds appointment

For its part, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, lauded the appointment, stating that Professor Amupitan’s appointment was based on merit.

He said, “We expect that he is going to be just. He has been chosen on merit, and he will play by the book. We expect him to add value to the electoral reforms our party has put in place.

“We are expecting him to add value to the democratic process Nigeria is going through. We are expecting him to make Nigerians have more confidence in the impartiality of INEC as an electoral umpire.

“So, we are not expecting anything short of that from him, and we expect that he is going to act in accordance with the trust that is placed upon him.”

Opposition set agenda

For their part, opposition figures have tasked the new INEC Chief to prioritise electoral reform, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law as he assumes office.

Reacting to Amupitan’s confirmation by the National Council of State on Thursday, Labour Party presidential candidate at the 2023 polls, Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria People’s Party expressed cautious optimism about his appointment.

In separate phone interviews with The PUNCH, they affirmed that Nigerians would closely monitor Amupitan’s performance.

Obi, who spoke through his media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said the first step for the new INEC boss should be a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“The agenda we are setting for him is to start with his tenure with electoral reform. We should ensure that a new electoral reform is on the horizon and ensure you work with it,” he stated, adding, “There is something that you cannot take away from Professor Mahmood during his tenure. He tried to refer to the law before taking decisions, though some people may have felt that he was hiding under the law. But in everything that you see, he would always refer to the provision of the law.”

The former Anambra governor also warned the new INEC boss not to be intimidated or play to the whims and caprices of the President because he was responsible for his appointment.

He said, “If everybody agrees to follow, support and execute the rule of law, we will have very minimal situations on our hands. Already, we know the law itself has been put into question at the moment because our judiciary has not been performing up to an optimal level.

“It is not as if he is an independent candidate. We are all aware of that. We can only be optimistic. But we are going to have our eyes on him. I really don’t envy him at all. He is going to carry a lot of load because he has a lot to prove.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, urged Amupitan to anchor his leadership on the rule of law and learn from the mistakes of the 2023 general elections.

“We really don’t know much about him. But the agenda we can set for somebody like that is to assess how far the commission has gone and for him to begin preparations for the next elections,” Johnson said.

“Amupitan should also look at the lessons they have learnt from the last polls and ensure his officers also understand the agenda he is bringing to the table. Whether his agenda is to bring free and fair elections, equity and all, he has to let them know as quickly as possible,” he added.

Mutfwang hails Amupitan’s appointment as INEC chairman

In his congratulatory message on Thursday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State described the new INEC Chief as a towering figure, a patriotic Nigerian, a strategic thinker, and a detribalized leader whose immense contributions have continued to shape the course of good governance and democratic advancement across the country.

“Through his pen and podium, he has continued to educate generations, shape public policy, and enrich the nation’s intellectual landscape,” the Governor remarked in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.

The Kogi State Government also congratulated Amupitan on his new appointment.

In a statement on Thursday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said, “Prof. Amupitan’s illustrious career as a renowned legal scholar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and respected administrator stands as a testament to his capacity for impartiality, integrity, and intellectual depth — qualities that are vital to the advancement of our electoral system.”

George, lawyers react

Reminiscing on the tenure of the outgone INEC Chair, Yakubu, a PDP chieftain, Bode George, described Yakubu as a man destined to face the spirit of the poor elections he conducted while in office.

Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, the elder statesman said of Yakubu, “I know him very well. It is sad that he had the opportunity to modernize the electoral system but failed. The same company they contracted is the same company that worked for the Ghana Electoral Commission. Have we not seen how elections are conducted in Ghana?

“I warned him that he would regret it. You saw what he did during the elections. They stopped the process due to fatigue and said they would continue the next day. He later blamed the whole thing on a technical glitch.

“Yakubu is a brilliant boy and has a good human spirit, but the election he conducted in 2023 will keep haunting him. They have thrown him under the bus. What is left for him now is a reckoning with his conscience and his God.”

On the recently appointed INEC chair, the PDP stalwart said, “As for Prof. Amupitan, I want him to know that whatever he sows, he shall reap. He should learn from history and do what is right. He should think of what would be said after his tenure is over, just as we are talking about Yakubu now.”

Legal luminaries have urged the new INEC Chairman to uphold transparency, resist political pressure, and restore public faith in Nigeria’s electoral process. The senior advocates, in separate interviews, said his emergence presents a rare opportunity to rebuild INEC’s credibility and reorient the country’s electoral culture.

Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), a leading commercial litigator and managing partner at Pinheiro LP, described the new INEC boss as “extremely resourceful, prudent, and thorough,” saying he comes to the job with “impeccable credentials and integrity.”

“My agenda for him is first to see his appointment as a national call to duty,” Pinheiro said, adding, “He must uphold the necessity to conduct credible, transparent elections and ensure that votes count. He must not allow himself to be distracted by those who always want to have their way even when the majority has spoken.”

Pinheiro also advised the new Chairman to ignore “the noise on social media,” which, according to him, “does not reflect the popular vote.” He warned that online sentiment often reflects “only those with smartphones” rather than the silent majority who decide elections at the grassroots.

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, Lekan Ojo (SAN), said Amupitan’s legal pedigree and current position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos made him a “fit and proper person” for the job. But he stressed that “transparency and integrity” must define his tenure.

“As of today, many Nigerians believe their votes do not count, and that perception has fueled voter apathy. The INEC chairman must erase this negative image and ensure people believe in the process again. He must resist any form of manipulation or control, and discharge his duties without fear or favour,” Ojo said.

He reminded Amupitan that he carries the reputation of the legal profession on his shoulders, adding, “I appeal to him to make the inner bar proud. This is the first time a Senior Advocate of Nigeria will head INEC, and he must leave an enviable legacy.”

For human rights lawyer and public affairs analyst Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), Amupitan’s biggest challenge will be insulating INEC from political influence and overhauling its operational inefficiencies.

He argued, “The INEC chairman is like someone carrying a crate of eggs. He needs stamina, courage, and determination not to succumb to external pressures,” Adegboruwa said, adding, “He must work with the National Assembly to amend sections of the Electoral Act that encourage manipulation, especially those relating to party primaries and candidate nominations.”

He also urged the new INEC leadership to embrace complete digitisation and open data access, saying, “INEC must dismantle its bureaucracy. The process of obtaining certified documents is too slow. There should be a portal where Nigerians can apply, pay, and get documents instantly. After all, candidates upload their credentials online, why can’t citizens access them the same way?”

The senior advocate added that improving transparency will ease election disputes and save the country billions spent on litigation.

“When people see that the umpire is neutral and the process credible, they will have no reason to go to court. That’s how to restore trust and dignity to our democracy,” he stated.

Amupitan obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in law from the University of Jos, after earlier studies at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Amupitan has built an extensive academic and administrative career spanning over three decades. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has written extensively on company law, corporate governance, and evidence law.

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 in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education. (The PUNCH)