This directive, insiders say, follows concerns raised by political actors within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over what they described as Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the government that appointed him.
Tensions Before Exit
According to sources, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State briefed President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation. During the meeting, Uzodimma allegedly accused Yakubu of moves to register new political parties towards the end of his tenure—actions said to have disrupted the president’s re-election preparations.
The governor further alleged that Yakubu had been quietly backing a candidate in the Imo governorship election. Following these reports, Tinubu directed Yakubu to step aside and begin his terminal leave.
The directive immediately disrupted INEC’s schedule, leading to the abrupt cancellation of the Commission’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties and a planned engagement with civil society organisations.
Search for a Successor
With Yakubu’s second and final five-year term due to expire in the first week of December 2025, the presidency is expected to forward a replacement nominee to the National Assembly in the coming days. Top government insiders have identified Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a respected academic and legal expert, as the frontrunner for the position.
Yakubu, who was first appointed in October 2015 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, served two terms after Senate confirmations in 2015 and 2020, completing a decade in office.
Profile of Prof. Amupitan
Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is a seasoned legal scholar, administrator, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with over 34 years of professional and academic experience.
A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, Amupitan began his career at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He became a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008. Over the years, he has held several senior academic leadership positions, including:
- Head of Department of Public Law
- Dean, Faculty of Law
- Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors
- Member, Governing Council of the University of Jos
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos
Amupitan has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. In December 2023, he was inaugurated as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU).
His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree from the University of Jos (1987), a Barrister-at-Law qualification from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (1988), a Master of Law (LL.M.) degree (1993), and a Ph.D. in Law (2007), both from the University of Jos.
Specialising in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law, Amupitan has published widely on electoral reforms, petroleum law, and corporate governance. His professional recognition peaked in 2014 when he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.
Looking Ahead
As President Tinubu prepares to nominate a new electoral chief, observers note that Prof. Amupitan’s academic pedigree and legal background place him as a strong candidate to steer INEC through upcoming political transitions.
If confirmed by the Senate, he would succeed Yakubu, who will leave behind a legacy of electoral reforms, digital innovations, and controversy over his final months in office.
