Don’t fail Nigerians, opposition lawmakers tell Amupitan

…Back His Appointment arsenic INEC Chairman

By Gift Chapi-Odekina

The Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has endorsed the assignment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) arsenic the caller Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing his enactment arsenic a invited improvement and expressing assurance successful his quality to present credible elections.

In a connection issued connected Friday by its spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the conjugation commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it termed “a measurement successful the close direction,” soon aft a media briefing held successful Abuja.

President Tinubu had connected Thursday presented Professor Amupitan’s information to the National Council of State for confirmation, pursuing the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served arsenic INEC Chairman from 2015 to October 2025.

The lawmakers described Amupitan’s assignment arsenic “well deserved,” citing his affluent academic, legal, and administrative inheritance arsenic a beardown instauration for reforming and repositioning the nation’s electoral body.

“For america arsenic absorption lawmakers, we invited the assignment of Professor Amupitan arsenic the caller INEC Chairman,” the connection read. “Looking astatine his inheritance successful world excellence, helium comes highly recommended. He has been a lecturer, a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a Pro-Chancellor. He has nary crushed to fail.”

They noted that Amupitan’s heavy knowing of electoral jurisprudence and predetermination petitions—both successful mentation and practice—positions him uniquely to fortify INEC’s organization credibility.

“We present person an INEC Chairman who knows the trouble successful proving predetermination petitions, understands the loopholes, and has taught and practiced electoral law,” Ugochinyere added. “He has each the nonrecreational qualifications required to administer a palmy INEC.”

The lawmakers urged the caller INEC Chairman to “write his sanction successful gold” by ensuring fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to the instrumentality successful each electoral processes. They besides described the forthcoming Anambra and Osun governorship elections arsenic a litmus trial for his leadership.

“We judge helium has each crushed to win and nary crushed to neglect due to the fact that helium has the nonrecreational acquisition and motivation instauration to pb INEC right,” the connection continued. “We volition enactment him arsenic agelong arsenic helium continues to administer INEC successful compliance with the law.”

Born and educated astatine the University of Jos, Professor Amupitan obtained his LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. successful Law earlier being called to the Nigerian Bar successful 1988. He began his world vocation successful 1989 arsenic an Assistant Lecturer, became a Reader successful 2003, and roseate to the fertile of Professor of Law successful 2008.

The absorption lawmakers urged Nigerians to springiness the caller INEC brag the payment of the uncertainty and justice him by his show alternatively than speculation.

“We don’t person immoderate grounds of wrongdoing against him,” they said. “Let america let him to settee into the presumption and statesman his work. The clip to justice him volition come, but for now, helium deserves our corporate support.”

The station Don’t neglect Nigerians, absorption lawmakers archer Amupitan appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.