The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to end the growing trend of elections being decided in courtrooms instead of at the polling units.

Speaking just a week after his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, the INEC boss said his leadership will ensure that electoral victories are determined by voters, not by judges.

“Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” he declared.

Prof. Amupitan made the statement on Monday while addressing participants at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the University of Abuja.

He emphasized that sustainable reform must start from the political parties, noting that most pre-election cases arise from internal party conflicts and disregard for their constitutions.

“If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” Amupitan said.

The electoral chief stated that his vision is to make the law an instrument of order and fairness.
“My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when our democracy can be said to have matured,” he added.

Amupitan also called on the National Assembly to strengthen existing electoral laws to promote transparency, party discipline, and public confidence in the electoral process.

He admitted that not everyone would be pleased with the coming reforms, but stressed that restoring integrity to elections is more important than convenience.

“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections,” he said firmly. “Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom.”

Addressing law teachers, jurists, and students at the event, the INEC Chairman urged them to view the law as a tool for justice and national development, not as a means of personal enrichment.

“As law teachers, we must lead by example — building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he stated.

Prof. Amupitan attended the event alongside his wife, Prof. Yemisi Amupitan, a respected academic and member of the NALT Board of Trustees.

Meanwhile, this development comes as expectations rise for electoral reforms under Amupitan’s leadership, particularly ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections.

..Likely Successor of Mahmood Yakubu

Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has alleged emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

Insider sources described the move as a response to what they termed Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that appointed him.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Yakubu’s efforts to register new political parties toward the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the governor also claimed that Yakubu was covertly supporting a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Yakubu suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

The directive caused disruptions at INEC, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Yakubu’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.

The president is expected to submit the name of a new INEC chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days, with sources identifying Prof. Amupitan as the likely nominee.

Yakubu’s current five-year term is set to expire in the first week of December 2025, marking the conclusion of his 10-year service.

He was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.

After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.

“Tinubu is shopping for Prof. Yakubu’s replacement, and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is likely to be the next INEC Chairman,” a top government source told SaharaReporters.

Amupitan’s Profile

Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.

Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.

He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.

According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.

His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.

Throughout his career, Amupitan has contributed to research, focusing on the legal frameworks for privatisation, reform of electoral laws, and reforms in petroleum and corporate governance laws.

He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

– Source: SaharaReporters

It is no longer a matter of speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan is contemplating a bid for the presidency in the 2027 election, as evidenced by his numerous consultations with prominent political figures in Nigeria.

Jonathan seems to remain uncomfortable with the manner in which he lost the 2025 presidential election to the late Muhammadu Buhari, who notably became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to successfully unseat a sitting president. …Click the link to continue reading.

Several months ago, high-ranking stakeholders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly traveled to The Gambia to engage with Jonathan and persuade him to accept the party’s nomination for the upcoming election.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has recently positioned himself as a facilitator in both national and continental matters, particularly concerning conflict resolution and the enhancement of democratic practices throughout Africa and beyond.

Political expetrs assert that the recent decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to designate the 2027 presidential ticket for candidates from the Southern region was a strategic move intended to create favorable conditions for Jonathan’s candidacy.

During a speech in Benin City, at the 70th birthday celebration of his longtime ally and former Chief of Staff, Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, Jonathan expressed sentiments of betrayal by individuals he had previously placed his trust in during his re-election campaign.

Most recently, a significant meeting took place in Abuja between former President Jonathan and Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

However, Jonathan’s aspiration to secure a nomination from the coalition party may face challenges, as Senator Mark clearly indicated that the only pathway to attaining the party’s nomination would require Jonathan to formally join the ADC and actively participate in a transparent presidential primary process.

On September 12, 2025, Jonathan extended his consultations to Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate from the Labour Party (LP), engaging in discussions in Abuja concerning potential strategies for forming a unified opposition front in anticipation of the 2027 presidential election.

In recent months, the prospect of Jonathan and Obi as potential challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has garnered considerable attention.

Following various reports regarding his prospective return to Aso Villa in 2027, Jonathan privately visited notable former military leaders, Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State, on September 15, 2022.

During separate meetings with the two leaders, Jonathan characterized his visits as routine engagements with esteemed elder statesmen, emphasizing, “The visit is simply a regular occurrence, particularly as I am the youngest of all former leaders. It also provided an opportunity to check in on General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has recently returned from medical treatment, and to visit General Babangida.”

Moreover, former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has publicly stated that Jonathan will indeed contest in the 2027 presidential election, positioning him as the flagbearer for the PDP.

Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has further expressed his belief that Jonathan represents the PDP’s strongest candidate for the 2027 presidential election, urging concerted efforts from the party to facilitate his return as a viable contender.

As the sitting president and a significant political figure, it is improbable that Goodluck Jonathan, despite extensive consultations, would be able to defeat Bola Tinubu. In the 2023 elections, regardless of the challenges he faced with his political party, he emerged victorious and continues to serve as president, commanding respect from both his supporters and opponents alike.

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