Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Tuesday, 18 November 2025, will linger long in the memory of the University of Jos. On that day, the Senate chamber blossomed with pride, admiration, and prayerful goodwill as the institution honoured one of its own, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), who, until his national call, was the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and is now the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This was contained in the INEC Daily Bulletin, Volume 2, No. 408 of November, 18, 2025.
The 4th Special Meeting of Senate became a river of tributes, stories, advice, and warm humour as academics, colleagues, university leaders, and top officials of INEC gathered to celebrate a man repeatedly described in one simple but weighty word: dependable.
Speakers across the ceremony also added rich nuance to his character, calling him a team player, a leader who wants solutions, a present leader, a humble and generous man, a strategic leader and scholar not intoxicated by power, a kind and spiritual man, and charismatic.
The ceremony drew an unusually high-profile crowd. Seven National Commissioners, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau, the Administrative Secretary, and management staff of INEC Plateau, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the Chief of Staff to the INEC Chairman, and the Directors of Voter Education & Publicity and International Cooperation & Protocol all graced the event. It was the first time in the university’s recent history that such a distinguished INEC delegation witnessed a Senate session. The University community also used the occasion to elect and confirm Prof. Pic Onwochei as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), succeeding Prof. Amupitan.
Speaking with warmth that held the hall spellbound, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, said the university was not merely bidding farewell to an administrator but celebrating a dependable man, one you could build on, lean on, and learn from. He described Prof. Amupitan as courageous, soft-spoken, wise, humorous, and unwavering in moments when most would retreat. “There were moments he could have backed out of duties that demanded too much, but he stayed. I have seen his courage again and again. INEC will feel that courage,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor drew laughter when he recounted whispers that Prof. Amupitan was being groomed to take over as Vice Chancellor. “I wasn’t preparing him for anything. God was preparing him for something else, and this is where we are today.” Offering frank counsel as Prof. Amupitan steps into the political labyrinth, he warned, “Working with politicians is the most difficult assignment in this country. Their expectations are high, and when they lose, it is you they accuse. But focus on logistics, security, and voter sensitization. And above all, carry courage with you.” He also urged him to confront the political resistance to full technological deployment in elections boldly.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Rahila Plangnan moved the hall with a deeply personal account of Prof. Amupitan’s character, recalling how he stood by her during difficult times and guided her with wisdom, support, and prayer. “He is a man of prayer. He is a man who hates injustice. And he walked the journey with me,” she said. She urged the new INEC Chairman to confront judicial interference that overturns electoral outcomes, emphasizing, “Voter apathy grows when courts declare winners instead of the people. If you address this, Nigerians will rejoice.” He closed by reminding him of the weight of national responsibility, urging him to “keep the gate open.”
National Commissioners spoke with unrestrained admiration, painting a picture of an INEC Chairman whose early days have already won hearts. National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu described him as “divinely appointed,” recalling how his humility and calmness endeared him to staff within days. “Leadership begins with how you treat your people. He listens, he cares, and that is why he will succeed.”
Prof. Sani Adams (SAN) recounted how Prof. Amupitan’s arrival had already transformed the Commission’s atmosphere, noting that the new Chairman shared WhatsApp platforms with all categories of election officials and staff during the just concluded Anambra governorship election, gave access to junior staff, and joined operational platforms during the Anambra election. He has charisma, whether he admits it or not. And his courage must now help him resist pressures from all sides,” he said.
When Prof. Amupitan finally rose to speak, he did so standing tall, insisting on honoring the Senate and INEC leadership despite pleas to sit. His speech was reflective, warm, humorous, and spiritual, leaving no doubt about the depth of his guiding values. He thanked the University for shaping him over 36 years and confessed that when whispers of his possible appointment first reached him, he resisted. “Friends told me: you don’t need this; it is a reputational risk. But as I prayed, God revealed it was His agenda. Isaiah 41:10 gave me strength: Fear not… I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Prof. Amupitan assured the University that his new national assignment had not severed his roots: “You are still my colleagues. After 36 years here, where else do I belong?” He urged unity within the university and paid heartfelt homage to the National Commissioners who accompanied him, noting, “Your presence shows you believe not just in me, but in our collective mission to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.”
Expanding on his vision for INEC, Prof. Amupitan reflected on the Anambra election experience, noting how staff overcame intense pressure and logistical challenges through discipline, teamwork, and early coordination. He emphasized that credibility begins at the very start of polling: “If you say an election starts at 8:30am, then it must start at 8:30am in every polling unit. That is where credibility begins. Logistics is everything.”
He highlighted that leadership requires both strategy and humility, insisting that success comes from empowering teams, listening actively, and prioritizing solutions over personal power. He also shared a deeply personal reflection on the importance of remaining grounded: “Leadership is not about being the loudest in the room; it is about being present where it matters, bringing people together, and creating solutions that endure. My hope is that INEC will be seen not just as an institution, but as a reflection of integrity, courage, and fairness.”
The ceremony ended with prayers, applause, warm embraces, and hopes both spoken and unspoken. Prof. Amupitan’s wife, daughter, son, colleagues, and former students watched proudly as tributes flowed.
For INEC, the moment felt symbolic, a reminder that leadership built on character, humility, courage, and justice remains possible in Nigeria. For the man at the center of it all, it was a homecoming of gratitude before the long, unpredictable road ahead. The University blessed him. INEC backed him. And Nigeria now watches him.
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