A coalition of more than 1,000 lawyers, under the banner of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), has called on the Senate to reject the nomination of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a letter dated October 10, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), the group alleged that Prof. Amupitan is unfit for the position due to his previous role as Lead Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court.
ALDRAP argued that this prior engagement represents a “clear case of bias, conflict of interest, and violation of statutory codes of conduct.” The association maintained that the integrity of the electoral commission requires a chairman with unquestionable impartiality, which they claim Amupitan’s past political affiliations compromise.
Signed by the group’s Administrative Secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga, the letter urged the Senate not to proceed with any confirmation hearing. It recommended that the Senate formally respond to President Bola Tinubu’s nomination by stating that “the nominee does not meet the constitutional and ethical qualifications for the office.”
The letter stated, “The Senate must act in line with precedent, as seen in 2021 when it rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie over her affiliation with the APC. Prof. Amupitan’s case falls squarely within that standard of disqualification.”
Citing Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (1991), ALDRAP noted that the appointment would place Prof. Amupitan in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his official responsibilities. The group also referenced Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act (2003), which prohibits using prior professional or political positions to gain undue advantage.
ALDRAP asserted that “Having previously served as Lead Counsel to the APC, Prof. Amupitan cannot credibly discharge the duties of an INEC Chairman, who must remain impartial in elections involving the APC and other political parties.”
The association further emphasized that Nigeria has more than 200,000 qualified lawyers, with at least half unaffiliated with any political party, and therefore suitable for appointment without any appearance of bias.
The group warned that if the Senate proceeds with Amupitan’s confirmation, it would file a lawsuit to compel compliance with constitutional standards of impartiality. “Take notice that in the event the Senate goes ahead to undertake confirmation of the said Prof. Joash Amupitan, our association shall be left with no option than to institute a lawsuit to compel adherence to the requirements of impartiality in the confirmation of an INEC Chairman,” the letter cautioned.
Copies of the petition were also sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police, and foreign diplomatic missions, including the European Union, United States, and United Kingdom embassies in Nigeria.
