A Human Rights Activist, Comrade
Idris Abdul Miliki, has expressed confidence in the ability of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan SAN, to deliver on his mandate as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
Miliki who is the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), noted that given Prof. Amupitan’s background, he can vouch for his integrity, adding that as an experience legal luminary, his nomination do not come to him as a surprise.
While commending President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the nomination of Prof Amupitan as INEC Chairman and the unanimous approval by the council of state, Miliki noted that the position of the chairman of INEC comes with very huge responsibility, saying that Prof Amupitan must be able to braced up to the challenges to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Speaking further, Miliki said “I have known Amupitan for over 40 years. We grew up together in our village.
He is from a family that is very educated, his father a magistrate and his mother a retired principal from our community, I have absolute confidence that he will do well as INEC Chairman.
“He has been in the academia all his life. He is someone that has not been involved in any controversy either at the community level, at the state or the national level.
“Given his background, pedigree as legal luminary and with the support of Nigerians, he should be able to perform creditably well.
“He is a very intelligent Professor, and digitally exposed. He should be able to excel and I think Nigerians should give him a chance to prove himself.
“While we await his confirmation by the Senate as required by law, I am very optimistic that Amupitan will perform to the admiration of Nigerians by delivery credible, transparent free, fair elections whose outcome will be acceptable to the generality of our citizens and the international community.
“His entire family have not been involved in any partisan politics.
To the best of my knowledge he is not a partisan person. He is certainly going to an impatial umpire. Miliki stressed
While describing him as a man of integrity, impeccable character and a very brilliant man right from primary school days, he however said, if he must succeed, the first thing he should do is to study all the reports on previous elections so that he can design a clear road map to success..
The National Council of State had on Thursday approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967 and hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State. He is a a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, Plateau.