Task Before INEC’s New Chairman, Amupitan

How the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), combines his background in academia, legal reform, and institutional governance in his new assignment will determine whether his tenure will bring stability, discipline, and reform-minded leadership capable of restoring voter confidence and strengthening the credibility of Nigerian elections, Davidson  Iriekpen writes

With the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after serving the maximum two terms of 10 years, President Bola Tinubu, last Thursday, appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new chairman of the commission.

Before the announcement, President Tinubu had nominated Amupitan to the National Council of State for approval, whom the Council members unanimously endorsed.

 In line with constitutional requirements, the president will also forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.

 Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, and also an alumnus of the institution. He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.

 After completing his primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and proceeded to the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.

He obtained an LLM from the University of Jos in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, building an academic career that began in 1989 following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, Bauchi, from 1988 to 1989.

 Before his appointment, Amupitan served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he held concurrently with his role as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

 Among the academic positions he held at UNIJOS were: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).

 Outside of academics, Amupitan served as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).

He is the author of many books on law, such as 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).

 By the time he resumes office, Amupitan would be the first from the North-central zone to head the commission.

 As Yakubu’s tenure drew to a close, speculations arose over who would succeed him, given that the next INEC chairman will play a pivotal role in determining the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The stakes are even higher as President Tinubu is expected to seek re-election, making public perception of INEC’s neutrality crucial to the legitimacy and integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.

 All the elections conducted since 1999, when the country returned to democracy, have faced criticisms. The 2023 general election was not an exception.

The failure of critical election technologies, along with logistical delays, prompted allegations of bias, compromise, and incompetence.

 By introducing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing portal (IReV), which promised real-time accreditation and transmission of results, Yakubu had raised expectations of credibility. Many Nigerians believed the 2023 general election would finally be different – a digital firewall against rigging and manipulation.

 For this reason, they trooped out in hope, only to watch their dream shattered on collation night like a cheap glass. The failure of real-time result uploads became a scar that refused to heal. Trust, the lifeblood of any democracy, was drained away in a matter of hours.

 If the general election was messy, off-season polls under the outgoing INEC boss were a carnival of malpractices. From Anambra to Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo, to Edo states, a dark pattern emerged: Logistics nightmares haunted every cycle like a bad spirit. Vote-buying became the currency of power. Collusion between politicians and compromised INEC officials turned the electoral process into a farce.  

 Last month’s off-season elections were also marred by confusion and violence in about 16 constituencies across 12 states, with security officers arresting officials of the commission and 288 thugs in Ogun, Kano, and Kaduna states, as well as widespread allegations of vote-buying.

 Though Yakubu promised zero tolerance for malpractices, these irregularities thrived. On many occasions, many accused him of bending under pressure. His insistence on sticking to timelines in 2023, even when logistics and technical readiness were in doubt, backfired.

 In Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan became a continental symbol of electoral integrity by insisting on transparency and accountability, even under immense political pressure. 

So was South Africa, where the Independent Electoral Commission earned global admiration for its role in stabilising democracy after apartheid.

 Also, in India, the world’s largest democracy, election commissions deploy cutting-edge technology and ruthless enforcement of electoral laws, ensuring near-zero tolerance for malpractice. 

In contrast, technology was introduced in Nigeria but allowed to fail at the most critical hour.

It is for this reason that many were looking forward to seeing a credible, independent figure and someone with the spine of steel to resist the temptations and terrors of Nigerian politics. After all, democracy is not all about casting ballots; it also includes those who manage the process, their level of credibility, and integrity.

Democracy generally thrives when arbiters remain neutral, courageous, and consistent in the face of political pressure. Nigeria’s democratic future and socio-economic development depend on bold and unbiased decisions.

 Restoring the credibility of INEC begins with leadership that is independent of partisan influence. Nigeria needs an individual with an unblemished character as the national chairman of the electoral body. 

 This is why the appointment of Amupitan is critical, as it is coming at a time of heightened scrutiny; a time when the commission is facing demands for more transparent processes, improved technology, and timely delivery of elections. How he combined his background in academia, legal reform, and institutional governance will tell if these would be able to bring stability, discipline, and reform-minded leadership to the commission.

 From day one in the seat, Nigerians expect him to disassociate himself from political affiliation and be courageous to do the lawful thing, no matter whose ox is gored. He must not just be a technocrat; he must be a reformer, an activist for transparency, a relentless enemy of electoral fraud. 

 As INEC chairman, many are anxious to see how Amupitan will restore voter confidence, strengthen the credibility of the voter register, and ensure that technology enhances rather than hinders elections. He must also balance political pressures with the commission’s independence, a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s democracy.

Those who know Amupitan closely say his life has been a symbol of service, integrity, incorruptibility, excellence, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law and participatory democracy. They are confident that with such a towering legacy, INEC under his leadership will experience a new dawn of credibility, transparency, and efficiency. How all these will strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system, restore public confidence, and uphold the sanctity of the people’s will, values he has always championed with conviction, the days ahead will tell.