By Emmanuel Adebayo ABANIDA, PhD
The recent appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has, as expected, generated conversations across the country. This is natural in a democracy. But what is troubling — and deeply disappointing — is the manner in which some individuals have chosen to attack the man’s integrity and career without any effort to verify facts or maintain basic fairness.
One of such misguided commentaries was recently circulated on social media by one Dr. Dayo Osifeso, who questioned the authenticity of Prof. Amupitan’s academic and professional credentials. His post, now widely shared, is riddled with insinuations and inaccuracies — the kind that thrive when intellectual curiosity is replaced by prejudice and malice.
As a Northern Yoruba elder, academic, and long-time public servant, I feel obliged to respond — not merely to defend one man, but to defend truth, decorum, and respect for merit. The Northern Yoruba of Kogi and Kwara have a long tradition of scholarship and modesty; we may not make noise, but we value integrity and hard work. It is therefore painful to watch a distinguished son of our soil, whose record stands firm in the Nigerian academy, being casually ridiculed by those too lazy or biased to verify simple facts.
Let us take Dr. Osifeso’s points one by one, nuancing each as it is.
1) On Date of Birth and Early Education
Prof. Amupitan was born in 1967, and by the early 1980s, he had completed both primary and secondary school education in Kwara State. In that era, it was not unusual for bright pupils to begin schooling early or skip a class — particularly in rural areas where academic calendars were flexible. To make an issue out of his age vis-à-vis his early polytechnic entry is both petty and misleading. It is equally mischievous to suggest foul play simply because the names of his primary and secondary schools were not mentioned in a press release. That information is available in his full academic CV and public records of the University of Jos, where he has served for decades.
Serious scholars and journalists know that a press release is a summary, not a doctoral thesis. Only the mischievous would pretend otherwise.
2) On His Kwara State Polytechnic Background
The record is clear: Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic between 1982 and 1984, where he obtained his preliminary qualification before proceeding to the University of Jos. Many students of his generation passed through a similar route — the polytechnic’s Preliminary Studies or IJMB programs were established precisely to prepare candidates for university admission. The question “what did he study there?” is easily answered: he undertook courses qualifying him for Law, which he pursued at UniJos.
Instead of applauding the fact that he advanced rapidly through legitimate pathways, Dr. Osifeso chose to sow confusion, revealing more about his own unfamiliarity with the education system of the 1980s than about Amupitan’s record. O mase O🙆♂️
3) On the “Three-Year Law Degree”
Perhaps the most telling display of ignorance lies in the claim that Amupitan “got a law degree within three years.” In truth, he was admitted to the University of Jos in 1984 and graduated in 1988 — the standard four-year program in Law at the time for those with qualifying preliminary studies. The five-year system became the norm later. Those of us who lived and studied through that period know this. The insinuation that he somehow “shortcut” his degree is baseless and defamatory.
Furthermore, his subsequent attendance at the Nigerian Law School and successful call to the Bar confirm that all his qualifications were properly earned and duly recognized by the Council of Legal Education.
4) On His PhD, Headship, and Deanship
Dr. Osifeso also sought to create scandal around the fact that Amupitan served as Head of Department before completing his PhD, and later as Dean shortly after obtaining it. Again, this betrays a lack of familiarity with university systems. In most Nigerian universities — including federal ones — senior lecturers or readers may be appointed Heads of Department based on seniority and administrative capability, not necessarily possession of a PhD. Similarly, deanship is an elective position among peers, determined by confidence, leadership, and merit, not merely academic titles.
Prof. Amupitan was already a recognized scholar, legal author, and active faculty leader before 2007. His rise to these positions was a mark of the respect he commanded, not evidence of impropriety.
5) The Broader Question of Bias and Respect
Beneath these shallow criticisms lies a deeper problem — a culture of intellectual irresponsibility and subtle regional bias. It is easy, in today’s Nigeria, for some to look down on scholars from the Middle Belt or Northern Yoruba communities, assuming that brilliance is the monopoly of a few southern universities. Yet history reminds us that excellence is no respecter of geography. From the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade, and from the classrooms of Ilorin to Jos, the Yoruba spirit of diligence has flourished wherever opportunity beckons.
Rather than celebrating the appointment of a tested scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria to lead an institution as crucial as INEC, some prefer to dig for imaginary blemishes. That is the tragedy of our times — a generation that doubts every achievement unless it comes from their tribe or clique. The likes of the very erudite but less diligent Osifeso cannot force the Yorubas of the North to be at war with our kins from the SW. If that’s his aim.
5) A Call for Decency and National Healing
Democracy thrives not on cynicism, but on confidence — confidence in our institutions and in the integrity of those who serve them. Prof. Amupitan’s appointment should be judged by his record of service, not by the envy or ignorance of armchair critics. Those who claim to be defenders of truth must first learn to do basic fact-checking.
I therefore urge the Nigerian public, especially the media, to elevate our national discourse. Let us not destroy our best minds with idle propaganda. Let us recognize that progress requires both competence and character — two qualities Prof. Joash Amupitan has demonstrated throughout his life.
The Yoruba of the North stand proud of him. His journey from Kwara to Jos, and now to national service, is a story of grit and grace — not privilege or manipulation. May his tenure bring fresh credibility to our electoral system, and may truth continue to prevail over malice.
*Emmanuel Adebayo ABANIDA (JP, mnim) MB.BCH; aFMC.Path; MPH; PhD; is a physician/public policy enthusiast, OkunYoruba from Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State, North-Central Zone, Nigeria)
