Amupitan - capitaltimesnews.com

NEW INEC CHAIRMAN PLEDGES CREDIBLE POLLS, IMPROVED STAFF WELFARE

CapitalTimesNews / 1 month

2 min read

The newly sworn-in Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has pledged to prioritize staff welfare and ensure credible elections across the country. Speaking at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during his assumption of office and official handover from the acting Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Professor Amupitan urged staff of the Commission to work as a team in order to achieve set objectives. He assured that under his leadership, a conducive working environment would be created to enable staff carry out their official responsibilities effectively. Professor Amupitan also reaffirmed his commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that truly reflect the will of Nigerians. “The integrity of our elections is not something we should even negotiate. It is the soul of democracy,” he stated. According to him, the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State will serve as a major test of the Commission’s readiness and commitment to credible polls. Earlier, the acting Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed confidence that Professor Amupitan would build on the strong institutional foundation already established by the Commission. She congratulated the new Chairman and assured him of the full support and cooperation of INEC staff. The event was attended by Professor Amupitan’s wife and children, senior staff of the University of Jos, and top officials of INEC.

SENATE CONFIRMS PROFESSOR JOASH AMUPITAN AS SUBSTANTIVE INEC CHAIRMAN

CapitalTimesNews / 2 months
0
3 min read

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the substantive chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Professor Amupitan, who serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), was nominated by President Bola Tinubu during the last National Council of State meeting, with the council backing his nomination and paving the way for Senate screening. Amupitan replaces Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who completed his tenure from 2015 until October 2025. Prior to his screening, Amupitan met with Basheer Lado, the Special Adviser on Senate Matters to President Tinubu. During his presentation to the Senate, Amupitan pledged to uphold INEC’s independence and address past issues, specifically vowing to audit the INEC system to investigate the IREV glitches that occurred during the 2023 Presidential election, which eroded public confidence. “For me, this is a very important task of service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Amupitan stated, expressing gratitude to President Tinubu and the National Council of State for his appointment. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring INEC’s integrity under his leadership. Professor Amupitan, aged 58 and from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first individual from the North-Central region to be nominated as INEC chairman and is described as apolitical. He is a Professor of Law at UNIJOS, an alumnus of the institution, and specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014. Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic from 1982 to 1984 and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987, before being called to the bar in 1988. He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, beginning his academic career in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation from 1988 to 1989. Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, concurrently serving as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. His previous roles at UNIJOS include Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors from 2012 to 2014, Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2008 to 2014, and Head of Public Law from 2006 to 2008. Beyond academia, Amupitan is a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and previously served as a member of the Council of Legal Education from 2008 to 2014, among other positions such as board member of Riss Oil Limited from 1996 to 2004. He is the author of several law books, including “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). Professor Amupitan is married and has four children.

NORTHERN MINORITIES GROUP CAUTIONS AGAINST ETHNICISATION OF INEC CHAIRMAN NOMINATION

CapitalTimesNews / 2 months

3 min read

The Northern Nigeria Minorities Group has condemned what it described as attempts by certain individuals and groups to ethnicise the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Convener, Chief Jacob Edi, the group described the criticisms trailing the nomination as unwarranted, divisive, and dangerous to national cohesion. Edi noted that Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, hails from the Okun ethnic group in Kogi State, one of the minority nationalities in Northern Nigeria. He emphasised that the North comprises 19 states with diverse ethnic and cultural identities, none superior to another by tribe, tongue, or faith. “We are deeply concerned by the spate of commentaries and social media tirades portraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Amupitan as an act of ethnic bias. Nothing could be farther from the truth,” the statement read. According to the group, this marks the first time in 65 years, since Nigeria established a statutory electoral commission in 1959, that a northern minority has been appointed to lead it. The group recalled that northern minorities had never questioned previous appointments, even when individuals from the North West and North East held the position for more than 15 years. Edi urged Nigerians to recognise northern minorities as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project, not mere demographic fillers, stressing that inclusivity strengthens democracy. The statement also condemned what it called an old and dangerous trend that began during the Obasanjo administration, when appointments of northern minorities were dismissed as not northern enough. “The North is not defined by ethnicity but by geography — broad, inclusive, and inherently multi-ethnic. Those promoting this narrow, toxic narrative are the real enemies of national unity,” the group warned. Outlining its position, the NNMG stated that reducing leadership choices to ethnic arithmetic undermines both the region and the nation. It added that such divisive thinking is outdated and contrary to modern governance ideals, and that competence, integrity, and capacity, not ethnicity, must guide national appointments. The group described Professor Amupitan’s nomination as a milestone for equity, meritocracy, and inclusivity, commending President Tinubu for recognising the North’s diversity and ensuring all segments of the federation feel a sense of belonging. “The time for ethnic arithmetic is over. This is the era of competence, fairness, and national responsibility,” the statement concluded. “Northern minorities are not just minorities — together, we are the stabilising force of this federation and true believers in Nigeria’s unity and progress.”

LAWYERS GROUP ALDRAP URGES SENATE TO REJECT PROF. AMUPITAN’S INEC CHAIRMANSHIP NOMINATION OVER ALLEGED BIAS

CapitalTimesNews / 2 months

2 min read

Over 1,000 Nigerian lawyers belonging to the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) have formally petitioned the Senate to reject Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan’s nomination as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing concerns over perceived partisanship and conflict of interest. In a strongly worded letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, ALDRAP argued Prof. Amupitan’s previous role as Lead Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petition disqualifies him from heading INEC. “Having previously served as Lead Counsel to the APC, Prof. Amupitan cannot credibly discharge the duties of an INEC Chairman, who must remain impartial in elections involving the APC and other political parties,” the association stated. ALDRAP Administrative Secretary Jesse Williams Amuga signed the petition, warning the Senate against proceeding with confirmation. “Take notice that in the event the Senate goes ahead to undertake confirmation of the said Prof. Joash Amupitan, our association shall be left with no other option than to institute a lawsuit to compel the Senate to comply with the requirements of impartiality,” Amuga emphasized. Citing legal provisions, ALDRAP referenced Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1991, and Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003, asserting these statutes bar public officers from positions breeding conflict between personal interests and official duties. The lawyers group reminded lawmakers of a 2021 precedent rejecting Lauretta Onochie’s INEC nomination due APC affiliation. “The Senate must act in line with precedent… Prof. Amupitan’s case falls squarely within that standard of disqualification,” ALDRAP maintained. Stressing Nigeria boasts over 200,000 qualified lawyers with many politically neutral candidates fit for INEC leadership, ALDRAP underscored threats to electoral credibility if perceived partisan figures assume office. Copies petition went President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Secretary Government Federation, Director-General DSS, Inspector-General Police plus foreign missions EU, US, UK embassies Nigeria. Senate response awaited amid intensifying debate Amupitan’s suitability.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONSTITUTES BOARDS...

EDO STATE GOVERNMENT DEMOLISHES...

EMINENT AFRICANS DEMAND IMMEDIATE...

IPI NIGERIA TO ENDOW...

WIKE SACKS FCT-IRS ACTING...

FG AND ASUU CONCLUDE...

NEW INEC CHAIRMAN PLEDGES CREDIBLE POLLS, IMPROVED STAFF WELFARE

SENATE CONFIRMS PROFESSOR JOASH AMUPITAN AS SUBSTANTIVE INEC CHAIRMAN

NORTHERN MINORITIES GROUP CAUTIONS AGAINST ETHNICISATION OF INEC CHAIRMAN NOMINATION

LAWYERS GROUP ALDRAP URGES SENATE TO REJECT PROF. AMUPITAN’S INEC CHAIRMANSHIP NOMINATION OVER ALLEGED BIAS

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONSTITUTES BOARDS OF NADF,.

EDO STATE GOVERNMENT DEMOLISHES CULT-LINKED PROPERTIES,.

EMINENT AFRICANS DEMAND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF.

IPI NIGERIA TO ENDOW UNIVERSITY PRIZE.

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