The Kogi West Project has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decision to nominate Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a long-awaited recognition of the contributions and competence of Kogi State citizens.
In a statement issued by the convener, Muyiwa Fatosa, in Abuja on Sunday, the group said the nomination reflects the President’s belief in inclusion and fairness across Nigeria’s regions.
According to the group, Kogi has for years played a stabilizing role in national politics but has rarely been represented in top federal institutions.
“We appreciate President Tinubu for remembering us and for demonstrating that merit and regional balance can go hand in hand,” the statement read. “Prof. Amupitan’s record in legal education, his decades of service, and his integrity make him one of the most qualified persons ever considered for this position.”
The group faulted recent publications questioning the nominee’s credentials, describing them as an orchestrated attempt to smear an accomplished scholar and to keep Kogi voices outside the national space. It noted that Prof. Amupitan’s academic journey and professional milestones are verifiable through official records at the University of Jos and the Nigerian Bar.
“Those spreading doubts should submit verifiable evidence, not rumours,” the statement continued. “Prof. Amupitan is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a respected mentor to hundreds of legal professionals. To drag his name through speculation is unfair both to him and to the region he represents.”
The Kogi West Project urged the Senate Screening Committee to focus on facts, not politics, and to conduct the confirmation hearing with transparency and fairness. It said that appointing a man of Amupitan’s calibre would strengthen INEC’s credibility and restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“This nomination is a test of whether our country truly rewards excellence,” the group added. “Kogi people see in this appointment a long-overdue signal that our contribution to national growth is finally being acknowledged.”
The group concluded by reaffirming its support for the nominee and commending President Tinubu’s sense of justice and inclusion.
