Amupitan denies role in Tinubu’s 2023 election tribunal team

The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has dismissed claims that he was part of President Bola Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) proceedings.

Amupitan made the clarification on Thursday while appearing before the Senate for his confirmation screening.

Responding to a question from Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), the law professor firmly stated that he did not represent President Tinubu, Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the case.

“You also talked about whether I was part of the presidential election team.

“I have read that too,” Amupitan said.

“It is very simple to answer.

“The law reports on those cases are already out.

“I even obtained certified true copies of the counsel lists before coming here.

“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court.”

He reiterated his neutrality when Senate President Godswill Akpabio further asked if he had represented any of the opposition parties.

“I was not part of it,” he stressed.

After more than two hours of questioning, the Senate confirmed Amupitan as INEC Chairman.

Lawmakers grilled him on plans to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and introduce meaningful institutional reforms.

Amupitan, 58, was nominated by President Tinubu and endorsed by the National Council of State last week.

He becomes the sixth substantive chairman of INEC, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.