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New INEC Chairman: Meet Prof. Joash Amupitan

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..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.

Tinubu Chairs ECOWAS 67th Session

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

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Politics

BREAKING: Atiku Picks Running Mate for 2027 Election

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Barring any last-minute change of formation, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has succeeded in setting up a possible ‘AA’ ticket on the presidential ballot of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by picking former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, as his running mate.

Also, yesterday, he declared that the actions by the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration contradicted the spirit, sacrifice and legacy of June 12.

Coming after weeks of rigorous negotiations within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) coalition platform, which was threatened by post-primary recriminations, the choice of Amaechi comes as a bold counter to the OK ticket pairing of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the rival NDC for the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

By settling for Amaechi, Atiku seems to have decided to do what he failed to do in the lead-up to the 2023 election cycle, when he refused to accept former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who emerged as the first runner-up in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.

While the duo of the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Obi, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Kwankwaso, joined the ADC, speculations were rife that the party had a predetermined plan to have Atiku run with the former transportation minister to achieve a North-East/South-South balance on the party’s presidential ballot.

But contrary to those conjectures, Amaechi, shortly after he filled and returned his N90 million presidential nomination form, said he was not positioning himself for a VP slot.

Further, pushing back on the reports of a possible pairing with Atiku after Obi and Kwankwaso left ADC for the NDC, Amaechi, on May 20, ruled out the possibility of a consensus rather than a direct primary.

Speaking to The Guardian on how the former Transportation Minister finally succumbed to pressures and entreaties from highly placed political leaders from both the North-West and South-South, a very close ally of Amaechi said Atiku assured that the “VP nominee would have extensive roles to play in the campaigns and government”.

Before the latest development, ADC chieftain, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, had dismissed comments credited to party stalwart, Dele Momodu, suggesting that Amaechi had rejected the party’s VP slot ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement posted on his verified social media accounts yesterday, Eze described Momodu’s remarks as personal opinion capable of creating unnecessary tension, mistrust and misunderstanding within the party.

According to him, Amaechi’s previous comments after the ADC presidential primaries had only indicated that no one had approached him regarding a VP position.

ATIKU, in a statement which he personally signed and released to commemorate another Democracy Day on June 12, urged citizens to stand up against bad governance, reject the politics of intimidation, and resist every manifestation of democratic backsliding.

He stressed that Nigerians must, once again, summon the courage of those who marched, protested, resisted, suffered and sacrificed for freedom for June 12 to retain its meaning.

The Adamawa politician said, over the past three years, Nigerians had witnessed a deliberate and coordinated effort to weaken, fragment and neutralise opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He added that through manufactured leadership crises, orchestrated defections, political intimidation and the abuse of state institutions, every credible opposition platform had come under sustained attack.

The former VP said institutions that ought to serve the Nigerian people impartially had increasingly been transformed into instruments of partisan warfare, adding that anti-graft agencies, the police, the National Assembly, and even segments of the judiciary had been deployed to harass, intimidate, and coerce opposition voices into submission or defection.

 

Source: The Guardian

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2027 Elections: Former Governor Finally Speaks on Dumping ADC 

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Former Adamawa State Governor, Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, has reacted to an appeal to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Martins Nasir Babale, appealed to Senator Bindow to consider returning to the APC.

Babale made the appeal during his courtesy visit to Senator Bindow’s office in Abuja.

Bindow expressed appreciation for the visit and thanked his former deputy for the concern, goodwill, and confidence demonstrated towards him.

The New Media Aide to Bindow, Shamsudeen Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Ibrahim said Senator Bindow, however, did not make a comment on his future political decisions.

“Former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency Martins Nasir Babale, today paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency, Senator Mohammed Umar Jibrilla Bindow, at his office in Abuja.

“During the meeting, the former Deputy Governor appealed to Senator Bindow to consider returning to the APC. His Excellency expressed appreciation for the visit and thanked his former deputy for the concern, goodwill, and confidence demonstrated towards him.

“Senator Bindow, however, did not make any comment regarding his current political position or future political decisions.” This comes amid reports that Senator Bindom has dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and rejoined the ruling APC.

According to TVC News, Bindow earlier withdrew from the 2027 governorship contest under the ADC platform. The former governor said his withdrawal was based on personal reasons after what he described as deep reflection and careful consideration.

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Political Twist: Nigerians React as NDC Gives Key Appointment to Peter Obi’s Popular Critic

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the appointment of Agada Abuh Theophilus, who is a popular critic of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 general elections, as its director of new media and strategic communications.

The party also announced the appointment of Brian Dennis as the deputy director of new media and strategic communications.

Osa Director, the NDC national publicity secretary, announced the appointments in a statement on Wednesday, June 10. According to him, the appointments were part of the efforts to strengthen the party’s digital operation and media engagement strategy ahead of future political activities.

Theophilus has been a popular voice in the political space in Nigeria since the 2023 presidential election. He consistently criticised Obi and the Obidient Movement on his social media platform, particularly X.

He has been a consistent challenger of the political views of Peter Obi and has questioned the direction and structure of the Obidient Movement since the outcome of the 2023 general elections. The NDC explained that the appointment of Theophilus will bring extensive experience in political communications, public relations, and corporate brand management.

However, the appointment has started generating reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:

Lagospidia said the Obidients would not be happy with the appointment: “Obidients seem to be in a difficult position on this one. Whether they like it or not, they may have to accept the appointment of Theo, a figure widely seen as not being aligned with Peter Obi.”

Nuhu Sada commented on the importance of the appointment ahead of the 2027 general elections:

“Political communication is becoming a key battlefield, and every appointment signals preparation for what lies ahead.”

Good News criticised the appointment: “These political parties are one kind sha. So, of all the people to appoint, it is the one who is a renowned antagonist of the presidential candidate you found. I will never understand this insensitivity.”

Iwu Nna questioned how Theophilus will now market Obi as the NDC presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections: “While everyone is angry, here is the real question. Will he calm down to lick his own vomit? Because he clearly has to market and hype Peter Obi, whom he has clearly disparaged on this app.”

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