Managing Director of THISDAY Newspaper, Eniola Bello, has described the newly-appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, as a “perfect fit” for the position, citing his exceptional academic achievements, administrative experience, and integrity.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Bello highlighted Amupitan’s long and distinguished career in academia, noting that he represents both intellectual depth and moral uprightness.
“In the first place, Professor Amupitan is a Lagos scholar, a very, very top one,” Bello said. “He was top of his class at the University of Lagos, went on to law school, and later returned to lecture, where he completed his master’s, PhD, and rose to become a professor.”
Bello added that Amupitan ’s administrative experience makes him well suited to lead INEC effectively. “He has been head of department, dean of faculty, chairman of the committee of deans, deputy vice-chancellor of administration, and even a member of the Council of Legal Education. So you can see that, both as an academic and as a leader, he is solid.”
He further emphasised Amupitan’s expertise in corporate governance and law of evidence, describing them as critical to improving the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system. “For INEC to have a free, fair, and proper election, we have to look at the kind of corporate governance available there,” Bello stated. “He is also an authority on law of evidence, the principles and procedures that govern admissible facts in proceedings which is what INEC deals with daily.”
The THISDAY Manging Director praised the new chairman’s character, portraying him as humble and principled despite his achievements. He explained, “Very few people know him because he’s not the noisy type. He does his job quietly. The senior lawyers, for example, have a lot of respect for him and for what he has done in that area. So he’s absolutely a perfect fit.”
On the path ahead, Bello advised Amupitan to maintain political neutrality and avoid any form of association that could compromise his credibility.
“The President said he’s apolitical, he should keep to that. He has to be very careful not to be associated with any politician, because that’s the easiest way to discredit him. Politicians will always look for things to discredit whoever is the umpire,” he cautioned.
Bello also addressed rumours circulating about Amupitan ’s professional history.
“Since his appointment, people have been digging all sorts of things, and when they couldn’t find any, they said he was once a lawyer to a politician. There’s nothing wrong with that he could have been a lawyer to anyone. What matters now is that he stays away from political circles to avoid issues of compromise or blackmail, he said.”
Follow us on:
