Amupitan’s Appointment as INEC Chair Splits Opposition
By Blessing Kalu
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stirred sharp divisions within the opposition, reigniting debates over Nigeria’s electoral credibility and the long-delayed push for reforms.
The appointment, endorsed by the National Council of State on Thursday, signals a new chapter for INEC following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure was marred by controversies and declining public trust. Tinubu described Amupitan, a Kogi-born law professor, as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” telling the Council that his choice was based on “record of service and character.” However, as the President prepares to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation, opposition figures remain divided on whether the move represents continuity or genuine change in Nigeria’s electoral landscape. Speaking in separate phone interviews with PUNCH Online on Saturday, some opposition leaders admitted that Tinubu acted within the law, while others warned that the decision could reinforce perceptions of political interference ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, said there was little legal ground to challenge the President’s action. “As long as the Constitution has not been amended, the right to appoint remains with him. The National Assembly has not made any amendments to the extant laws. So, the onus is on civil society organisations and reform advocates to push harder. Until the National Assembly changes those laws, the President will continue to act within the existing framework,” Akeni said.
He added, “It is obvious the next election may not be free and fair. It is a case of he who pays the piper calling the tune.” Akeni also urged opposition figures to move beyond online rhetoric and take concrete action. “What the opposition can do is take physical action rather than post tweets that achieve nothing. People like Atiku, Obi, and other opposition leaders should come together and take to the streets. Tweets won’t change anything only mass action can,” he argued.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said Amupitan’s appointment once again highlighted the need to implement the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Report, which recommends an open, merit-based process for selecting INEC leadership. “I must tell you sincerely that I stand by the Uwais Report. That is the only path to restoring credibility to our elections. The report clearly stated that such vacant positions should be advertised for fairness and justice. Without that, our elections will remain flawed, and there will be danger ahead,” Tanko said.
Read more;Council Approves Professor Joash Amupitan as New INEC Chairman
Not all opposition voices were critical, however. The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, defended the legality of Tinubu’s decision while acknowledging broader calls for reform. “Unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can do since the Constitution has not been amended. Until that is done, Tinubu has every right to appoint whomever he wants. This is one of the areas we are hoping to change through constitutional and electoral reforms,” Johnson explained.
He added that the credibility of the new INEC chairman would ultimately depend on his actions in office. “It’s too early to judge his intentions. We’ll have to see his body language and what he stands for. But, unfortunately for him, many Nigerians believe the President would not ordinarily appoint someone who won’t work in his favour. We can only hope for the best,” he noted. Amupitan, the first person from Kogi State to be nominated as INEC Chairman, now faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding voter confidence and restoring faith in an institution that many Nigerians view with scepticism.
PUNCH Online reports that the National Council of State gave its unanimous approval to Amupitan’s appointment on Thursday. The announcement was confirmed in a post on X by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the Council’s meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where Tinubu formally presented Amupitan’s nomination for confirmation.
His appointment follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s ten-year tenure in October 2025.