Ahead of the National Assembly’s screening and confirmation, various political parties and civic groups have outlined expectations for the incoming Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN.
President Bola Tinubu formally presented Amupitan to the National Council of State, which approved his nomination. The President is expected to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation next week.
If confirmed, Amupitan — a Professor of Law from Kogi State — will become the sixth academic to lead INEC after Professors Eme Awa, Humphrey Nwosu, Maurice Iwu, Attahiru Jega, and Mahmood Yakubu, who concluded his 10-year tenure on October 7.
Born in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, the 58-year-old legal scholar is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He specialises in Company Law, Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law, and has been described by colleagues as apolitical and deeply committed to democratic values.
Following the announcement, reactions poured in from political and civic stakeholders. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) urged Amupitan to prioritise loyalty to Nigerians over political interests, stressing that his appointment offers a rare opportunity to restore faith in the electoral process.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State praised the choice, calling Amupitan a “towering intellectual and patriot” whose experience and character would strengthen democracy.
The Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum (NENF) also commended the appointment, describing it as a “historic step toward inclusiveness and electoral reform,” while the Obidient Movement expressed hope that his leadership would usher in “a new era of credible and transparent elections” ahead of 2027.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) said Amupitan’s biggest task would be rebuilding public trust in INEC, which, it noted, suffered a major credibility blow following the 2023 general elections. The group urged him to prioritise transparency, technological integrity, and accountability, warning that Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral body had fallen to alarming levels.
As the nation awaits the Senate’s confirmation process, many view Amupitan’s nomination as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy — and a test of the administration’s commitment to credible elections and institutional independence.
