Abuja, Nigeria
The recent appointment of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sparked widespread debate, following fresh allegations of inconsistencies and missing details in his academic history.
Public commentator Rufai Oseni and others have raised pressing questions about Amupitan’s educational background as presented in a State House press release signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, with many pointing to possible discrepancies similar to past high-profile controversies.
According to the details released, Prof. Amupitan was born in 1967 and reportedly attended the Kwara State Polytechnic between 1982 and 1984, supposedly after completing both primary and secondary education.
However, critics argue that if he truly enrolled at the Polytechnic in 1982, he would have been only 15 years old a timeline that raises doubts about the accuracy and completeness of the records.
Equally puzzling is the claim that he attended the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987 to study Law, even though the standard duration for law programs in Nigeria is five years. Questions have also surfaced regarding what exactly he studied at the Polytechnic and whether his academic progression aligns with the typical Nigerian university system.
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Further scrutiny comes from Dayo Osifeso, PhD, a Lagos-based academic, who pointed out additional inconsistencies in Amupitan’s career trajectory.
He noted that the new INEC chief reportedly obtained his PhD in 2007, yet had already served as Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008) and later as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014)an unusually rapid academic rise that some find difficult to reconcile with federal university procedures.
“Such advancements rarely occur in Nigerian academia without completing the required academic qualifications,” Dr. Osifeso remarked.
“Those who packaged this CV owe Nigerians a detailed explanation of the missing links.”
While the Presidency has yet to respond to the allegations, the growing debate has once again brought Nigeria’s leadership integrity and vetting processes into the spotlight raising calls for transparency and accountability in public appointments.
As Nigerians await official clarification, the controversy underscores a recurring theme in the nation’s political discourse: the urgent need for verifiable educational and professional records among public officials.