Fact-Check: Was Professor Joash Amupitan Part of Tinubu’s 2023 Election Tribunal Legal Team?
A fresh controversy has erupted following the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Online discussions have questioned his neutrality, with some social media users alleging that he was part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team that defended President Bola Tinubu at the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
However, a fact-check conducted by Headlineswave.ng reveals conflicting reports and a lack of verifiable evidence linking Professor Amupitan directly to Tinubu’s legal team during the post-election court proceedings.
What We Found
While a few online platforms — including 247ureports.com and ElitesViewMedia — claimed that Professor Amupitan served as part of the APC or Tinubu’s defense team, no official court records or tribunal documents list his name among the counsels who appeared for either President Tinubu or the APC during the hearings.
On the other hand, reputable sources such as Tell Magazine and several independent legal analysts have debunked the claim, stating clearly that there is no credible evidence of his participation in the 2023 election petition defense.
A recent fact-check by Tell.ng stated:
“Despite online claims linking Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) to Tinubu’s 2023 tribunal defense, official filings and available records show no proof of his involvement in the case.”
Similarly, a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @sjonu also confirmed:
“Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN was not a member of the APC legal team in the 2023 Presidential Election Petition.”
Why It Matters
The allegation matters because the position of INEC Chairman demands strict neutrality and public confidence in the electoral process. Any perceived political ties could raise concerns about fairness ahead of future elections.
However, as things stand, no verifiable evidence has been presented to prove that Professor Amupitan played any role in Tinubu’s 2023 tribunal legal team. Until such evidence emerges, the claim remains unsubstantiated.
In Summary
No official tribunal record links Amupitan to Tinubu’s or APC’s defense.
Claims on some blogs and social media remain unverified.
Fact-checks from credible outlets affirm he was not part of the legal team.
The matter underscores the need for responsible reporting and verification before sharing politically sensitive information online.
