Fact Check: No Evidence Professor Joash Amupitan Was Part of Tinubu’s 2023 Election Legal Team

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Following his nomination as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has become the subject of online speculation alleging prior involvement in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 election petition tribunal defense.

However, a thorough review of tribunal records, official reports, and academic profiles shows no confirmed evidence that Professor Amupitan was part of Tinubu’s legal team during the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) proceedings.

Professor Amupitan, currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, is a respected legal scholar specializing in corporate governance, evidence law, and privatization. His background aligns with high-level legal work, but no record—official or media—lists him among Tinubu’s tribunal lawyers.

Tinubu’s 2023 legal team was publicly led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as Wole Olanipekun, Lateef Fagbemi (now Attorney-General), Ahmad Raji, Awa U. Kalu, and Chief Akin Olujinmi. Amupitan’s name does not appear in any of the official proceedings, filings, or post-judgment analyses.

While some social media users claimed he acted as “lead counsel” for Tinubu, these assertions are unverified and appear to stem from online speculation. None of the major law reports, tribunal transcripts, or APC communications support this claim.

President Tinubu himself described Amupitan as “apolitical” during the National Council of State meeting that confirmed his nomination — a statement aligning with his record as an academic rather than a partisan figure.

Civil society observers, however, have raised broader concerns over Nigeria’s process of appointing electoral umpires, calling for reforms that ensure transparency, independence, and public trust.

“The issue isn’t Amupitan’s competence, which is unquestioned,” one political analyst said. “It’s about institutional confidence — when a sitting president appoints the electoral referee, the optics alone raise eyebrows.”

The Presidency has confirmed that Amupitan’s name will now be forwarded to the Senate for screening, while the Council of State’s endorsement remains advisory.

As of publication, no credible evidence ties Professor Joash Amupitan to Tinubu’s 2023 legal defense. Claims to the contrary remain unsubstantiated online rumors.