Coalition of over 1,000 lawyers under the aegis of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, the group argued 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.
According to the letter signed by ALDRAP’s Administrative Secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga, Amupitan’s appointment would constitute a clear case of bias, conflict of interest, and breach of ethical standards. The association maintained that the Senate should not proceed with his confirmation but should instead inform the President that the nominee fails to meet constitutional and moral qualifications for the role.
“The Senate must be guided by precedent, particularly the 2021 rejection of Lauretta Onochie’s nomination over her partisan affiliation with the APC. Prof. Amupitan’s situation falls within the same standard of disqualification,” ALDRAP stated.
Citing Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1991, and Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act, 2003, the lawyers emphasized that Amupitan’s appointment would violate provisions against situations where personal or prior professional interests conflict with public duties.
“Having previously represented the APC, Prof. Amupitan cannot credibly perform the duties of an INEC Chairman, a role that requires total neutrality, especially in elections involving the APC,” the group added.
ALDRAP further noted that Nigeria has over 200,000 qualified lawyers, many of whom are non-partisan and capable of serving without bias.
The association warned that should the Senate proceed with Amupitan’s confirmation, it would initiate legal action to enforce constitutional standards of impartiality.
“Take notice that if the Senate goes ahead with the confirmation of Prof. Joash Amupitan, our association will institute a lawsuit to ensure compliance with the constitutional requirements of impartiality for the office of INEC Chairman,” ALDRAP warned.
Copies of the petition were 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.
ALDRAP described itself as a professional association comprising over 1,000 lawyers working with the National Assembly and other legislative institutions within and outside Nigeria.
