Key Points

• Nigerians and political parties outline priorities for new INEC chairman.

• Calls grow for transparent elections, technology upgrades, and reforms.

• Amupitan faces pressure to restore trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Ahead of his Senate screening, political parties and civil society groups have urged Prof. Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairmanship, to rebuild public trust and deliver credible elections.

Tinubu had presented Amupitan’s nomination to the Council of State on Thursday, where it received unanimous approval.

The president is expected to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation next week.

If confirmed, Amupitan will become the sixth professor to lead INEC, following Eme Awa, Humphrey Nwosu, Maurice Iwu, Attahiru Jega, and Mahmood Yakubu, who stepped down on October 7 after ten years in office.

Stakeholders urge loyalty to Nigerians, not the ruling party

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has advised Amupitan to stay loyal to Nigerians rather than the All Progressives Congress (APC) that nominated him.

In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said Amupitan has “a rare chance to write his name in history as the INEC chairman who gave Nigerians free and credible elections.”

“We hope he proves loyal to the Nigerian people and not to the government,” Abdullahi added.

“This appointment gives him an opportunity to restore trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.”

Governors and regional groups applaud historic nomination

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised Amupitan as “a patriotic intellectual” whose character and expertise would strengthen democracy.

He also commended President Tinubu for recognizing the North Central region, saying the appointment “reflects balance and fairness.”

The Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum (NENF) also welcomed the nomination, describing it as a “historic step toward electoral reform.”

NENF Chairman Dr. Dominic Alancha said, “This appointment represents merit and inclusiveness. We believe Prof. Amupitan will lead the commission with independence and excellence.”

Calls for transparency and reform ahead of 2027 elections

The Obidient Movement and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have urged Amupitan to focus on electoral reforms before the 2027 general elections, following the public backlash against INEC’s handling of the 2023 polls.

Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said Amupitan must learn from past mistakes and “deliver a new era of transparency and technological reliability.”

CUPP’s National Secretary Chief Peter Ameh said Amupitan’s “first task is to rebuild public trust in an institution whose credibility has been badly damaged.”

He cited problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2023 elections, which led to allegations of vote manipulation.

“Amupitan’s appointment comes at a time when INEC’s public trust has fallen below 25 percent,” Ameh said. “His success depends on restoring faith in Nigeria’s democracy.”

Who is Prof. Joash Amupitan?

Joash Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).

He obtained his degrees from Kwara State Polytechnic and the University of Jos, where he earned an LLM in 1993 and a PhD in 2007.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) since 2014, Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Corporate Governance, and Law of Evidence.

He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. He is married and has four children.