PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sparked widespread controversy, with critics raising five key concerns about transparency, partisanship, and competence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Approved by the National Council of State to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Amupitan’s appointment comes amid deep public distrust following the contentious 2023 elections.
1. Presidential overreach in selection process
Critics argue that allowing a sitting president, who may contest in 2027, to unilaterally appoint the electoral umpire undermines INEC’s independence as mandated by Section 154 of the 1999 Constitution. Civil society groups demand transparent, multi-stakeholder selection criteria, slamming the opaque process and the National Council of State’s approval as a “rubber stamp” for Tinubu’s choice.
2. Allegations of ethnic bias
Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede in Kogi State (North-Central), is ethnically Yoruba, fueling accusations of favouritism by Tinubu, also Yoruba. Critics have labelled the appointment a move to entrench “Yoruba dominance” in key institutions, despite meeting federal character rules.
3. Lack of electoral experience
Amupitan’s expertise in corporate and evidence law, with no prior involvement in election management, has raised doubts about his ability to lead INEC effectively. Unlike predecessors like Attahiru Jega, praised for the 2015 elections, Amupitan inherits a “reputational deficit” from the 2023 election controversies, as noted by former INEC Commissioner Mustapha Lecky in Gistmania.
4. Political ties and conflict of interest
Amupitan’s decade-long role as a lawyer for opposition figure Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked concerns about potential bias. A resurfaced 2016 interview where Amupitan defended “budget padding” as potentially “lawful,” has further fueled scepticism about his impartiality for a role requiring neutrality
5. Fears of APC control over 2027 elections
The appointment has amplified accusations that the APC is positioning loyalists to rig the 2027 elections.