Setting the Record Straight: Prof. Joash Amupitan Was Never a Member of Tinubu’s Legal Team
In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a wave of misinformation has been deliberately circulated particularly the false claim that Prof. Amupitan once served as a member of Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 presidential election tribunal.
This assertion is not only unfounded and misleading, it is a calculated attempt to discredit his appointment and cast aspersions on the integrity of the electoral umpire.
Who Really Represented Tinubu?
The official legal team that represented President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and the Supreme Court in 2023 was publicly documented and widely reported. The lead counsel and senior advocates in that team included:
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN – Lead Counsel
Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN – Now Attorney-General of the Federation
Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN – Former Attorney-General of the Federation
Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (of blessed memory)
Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN
Dr. Babatunde Ogala, SAN
Charles Edosomwan, SAN
Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN
Kemi Pinheiro, SAN
Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN
Emmanuel Ukala, SAN
Ifeanyi G. Okeke, Esq.
Toyin Oladipo, Esq.
Tahir Mamman, SAN (now Minister of Education)
Oluwole Afolabi, Esq.
At no point in the official filings, court appearances, or public records was Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN listed among counsel for President Tinubu or the APC. The National Judicial Council, the Presidential Legal Directorate, and multiple legal correspondents covering the proceedings never referenced his involvement.
The Origin of the Misinformation
The misleading claim appears to have originated from unverified social media posts and political forums, with no supporting evidence from tribunal records or legal documentation. Some bloggers and partisan commentators have repeated the assertion without fact-checking , a trend that underscores the need for responsible public discourse, especially on matters as sensitive as electoral credibility.
Truth Matters
It is vital for Nigerians to separate fact from fiction in the current political environment. Misrepresenting Prof. Amupitan’s legal history is an attempt to undermine his credibility and delegitimize his appointment before he even assumes office. This tactic, if left unchecked, erodes public confidence in national institutions and diminishes the quality of our democratic debate.
The record is clear and incontrovertible: Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, was never part of President Tinubu’s 2023 election legal team. His appointment as INEC Chairman should be assessed based on his legal scholarship, professional experience, and capacity for impartial leadership — not on fabricated associations designed to serve partisan ends.
Public records, court documents, and authoritative reports all confirm that the Tinubu legal team did not include Prof. Amupitan. Any suggestion to the contrary is false, politically motivated, and should be dismissed as misinformation
