Politics

New INEC Chairman: Meet Prof. Joash Amupitan

Published

10 months ago

October 1, 2025

..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

Politics

Osun Election: Tension as Two Political Supporters Shot Dead, Others Injured in Fresh Attack

Published

8 hours ago

August 12, 2026

The Daily Voice

Tension gripped Ilesa, Osun State, on Tuesday morning after suspected political thugs attacked supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving two people dead and two others critically injured.

According to The Nation, the incident reportedly occurred around 7:30 am at the Igbogi area of Ilesa, where APC supporters had gathered ahead of the party’s final campaign rally scheduled to begin at 8 am.

Witnesses said the attackers arrived at the gathering and opened fire on the supporters before fleeing the area.

A resident identified simply as Sola said party members were preparing to move to the rally venue when the attack occurred.

He said, “We were preparing for our final rally today, and our leaders said we should converge at Igbogi for take-off, which is scheduled for 8 am.

“At 7:30 am, the thugs stormed the venue and were shooting sporadically.”

Sola initially claimed four people had died in the attack, but the APC Campaign Council later put the death toll at two.

He also linked the incident to recent political tension in the area, saying, “It is so unfortunate. This is coming barely three days after Amotekun shot some members.”

APC Confirms Two Deaths
The Media Head of the APC Campaign Council, Oluremi Omowaiye, confirmed that four party supporters were affected in Tuesday’s attack.

He, however, clarified that two of the victims died while two others were receiving treatment for serious injuries.

“Four of our supporters were shot, two of them are dead while two others are in critical condition,” Omowaiye said.

He added that the APC woman leader in Ilesa was among those injured and had been taken to Wesley Guild Hospital for treatment.

Politics

FACT CHECK: Did ADC Candidate Najeem Salaam Really Step Down for Adeleke? The Truth Finally Emerges

Published

23 hours ago

August 11, 2026

The Daily Voice

Recent reports claiming that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dr. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, is stepping down to support Governor Ademola Adeleke are not supported by the latest available evidence.

The rumour gained traction after photographs of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Adeleke circulated online, triggering speculation that the ADC was negotiating an alliance with the governor ahead of the August 2026 governorship election.

However, Aregbesola, who is the National Secretary of the ADC, has dismissed the claim, saying the party is not negotiating an alliance with any political party and that Salaam will not step down for another candidate.

Aregbesola made the clarification during an ADC solidarity rally in Ejigbo, Osun State. According to the report, he said the party was contesting the election independently and had no agreement with any rival political party.

The claim is further contradicted by recent statements from Salaam himself. A social-media post attributed to the ADC candidate said: “I remain fully in the race. I’m contesting to win.”

Available records also show that Salaam remains the ADC’s candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election. He emerged from the party’s primary with all 520 valid votes cast by accredited delegates.

The ADC has also continued campaigning around Salaam’s candidacy. In July, a party spokesperson described him as the party’s governorship candidate and outlined the programme he intends to implement if elected.

Verdict: FALSE

There is no credible evidence at the time of writing that Najeem Salaam has withdrawn from the 2026 Osun governorship election to support Ademola Adeleke. The latest statements from Aregbesola and Salaam indicate the opposite: the ADC says it remains in the race and intends to contest the election independently.

Politics

2027 Election: Four Aggrieved Oyo APC Governorship Aspirants Take Fresh Action

Published

1 day ago

August 11, 2026

The Daily Voice

Four governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, on Sunday, reconciled with the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, and pledged to work for the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.

The aspirants are former Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan; Oyedele Alao; Musbau Asanike; and Dr Ololade Bakare.

The reconciliation followed a series of meetings by the APC Governorship Aspirants’ Reconciliation Committee set up to address disagreements arising from the party’s governorship primary.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, announced the development at a press conference held at a Blueline Hotel in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

Lanlehin said although some of the 11 aspirants who contested the primary had reservations about the process and its outcome, the need to build a stronger party ahead of the 2027 election had made reconciliation necessary.

He said, “We listened to their concerns and disappointments and, importantly, found that we have far more that unites us than divides us.

“Today, we are pleased to announce that four distinguished governorship aspirants have agreed to put the contest behind them and work with Senator Sharafadeen Alli in the interest of the party and our victory in the 2027 General Election.”

Lanlehin described the development as a victory for “collective interest over individual ambition, reconciliation over division and unity over factionalism.

“The party could only win the 2027 governorship election through unity,” noting that “no candidate could rely solely on those who supported him during the primary.

“No candidate can win a general election by relying only on those who supported him in the primary. A governorship election is won by a united political family.”

Meanwhile, in a communique issued after the reconciliation meetings, the aspirants pledged their “unwavering and unflinching support” for President Bola Tinubu, Alli and all other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

They also pledged to cooperate with the party and its campaign structures to ensure victory at the polls.

The committee said the reconciliation process with the APC “G6” governorship aspirants had been concluded, except for Barrister Akeem Agbaje.

The aspirants also expressed their desire to meet with President Tinubu at his convenience to reaffirm their support for his 2027 presidential bid.

Source: The Nation