Legal expert and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has expressed confidence in the integrity and character of the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan (SAN).
Odinkalu, who made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, described Amupitan as a man of “basic decency and integrity,” recalling their long-standing acquaintance from law school.
“I know Joash (Amupitan). We were in the same law school class and were admitted to the Nigerian Bar Association on the same day. He is a person of basic decency and integrity,” Odinkalu stated.
While expressing optimism about Amupitan’s leadership, Odinkalu also highlighted the challenges the new chairman is likely to face due to the entrenched influence of politicians within the electoral body.
“INEC is a territory ruled by many principalities, as he is likely to find out. Politicians own a lot of staff inside INEC. There is no senior politician, from the presidency to state governors, who does not have a plant in INEC,” he said.
Odinkalu noted that Amupitan’s first major test as INEC chairman would be the off-season governorship election in Anambra State, scheduled for November 2025, which will serve as an early measure of his leadership and reform capability.
Despite his reservations, the former NHRC boss expressed goodwill toward Amupitan, saying he would be praying for his success.
“I’m not a particularly religious person, but because he is who he is, I’ll be praying for him,” he added.
By Hamzat Omolade
