The recent nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has elicited varied reactions across Nigeria. Professor Amupitan, who hails from Kogi State in the North-Central region, was reportedly granted unanimous approval by the Council of State following consultation. This significant appointment comes as Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure concluded, marking a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s electoral landscape.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), spearheaded by Yiaga Africa, have strongly urged the Nigerian Senate to conduct a transparent, diligent, and rigorous screening process for the nominee. While acknowledging Professor Amupitan’s academic and professional accomplishments and having no principal objection to his nomination, the CSOs emphasized that the Council of State’s approval does not diminish the Senate’s duty to ensure a thorough vetting. They called for the screening process to be televised and inclusive, allowing for citizen and civil society input through memoranda, petitions, and participation in confirmation hearings.

The CSOs' demands extended to a comprehensive examination of Professor Amupitan's competence, public records, and his vision for electoral reform, including the institutional strengthening of INEC. They stressed the critical importance of interrogating his capacity to resist political interference and uphold electoral integrity, especially considering the current state of Nigeria’s electoral process, which necessitates a fiercely independent INEC. Additionally, they urged the Senate to question his plans to address systemic challenges such as voter registration, result transmission, and the enforcement of INEC’s regulations and guidelines. The organizations reiterated their long-standing call for a transparent, inclusive, and citizens-centred appointment process, consistent with recommendations from key electoral reform interventions like the Justice Uwais Report and the Ken Nnamani committee report.

In contrast, the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum, comprising APC stakeholders from the region, expressed immense satisfaction and pride in President Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Amupitan. In a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the Forum lauded both President Tinubu and the National Council of State for their decision. They highlighted Professor Amupitan’s distinguished track record as an accomplished legal scholar, practitioner, university administrator, and illustrious academia, noting his three decades of lecturing and mentoring at the University of Jos. The Forum confidently assured Nigerians that Professor Amupitan is a "round peg in a round hole" and possesses the capacity to deliver credible, free, and fair elections throughout his tenure.

The North-Central APC Forum also viewed the appointment as an affirmation of the calibre of human resources available in the region for critical national assignments. They called upon all Nigerians, particularly stakeholders in the electoral system, to offer their full support to the new INEC chairman to ensure his success in this crucial national undertaking. Despite the varying approaches—with CSOs focusing on rigorous oversight for independence and the APC Forum emphasizing competence and pride—both sides ultimately underscore the collective desire for a robust and trustworthy electoral system in Nigeria.