By Our Correspondent

The Governing Council of the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, has approved the appointment of Professor Mohammed Inuwa Ja’afar as the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

The decision was taken at the 10th Special Meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

Professor Ja’afar succeeds the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Umaru A. Pate, who was described by the Council as an erudite scholar and an accomplished academic administrator.

Announcing the appointment, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Williams Olushola Aderounmu, said Professor Ja’afar emerged as the best candidate after scoring the highest marks among the 20 candidates interviewed for the position.

In a statement signed by the University’s Chief Information Officer, Janet Ibrahim Ezekiel, Professor Ja’afar was described as a seasoned academic from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

The statement noted that his appointment is expected to further strengthen the University’s academic growth, research development, and administrative efficiency.

The Governing Council congratulated Professor Mohammed Inuwa Ja’afar on his well-deserved appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to provide purposeful leadership, wishing him a successful and impactful tenure.

Professor Ja’afar is an indigene of Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State. An accomplished academic and administrator, he previously served at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, where he rose to the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Following the expiration of the tenure of the substantive Vice-Chancellor at Modibbo Adama University, Professor Ja’afar was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor by the institution’s Governing Council to ensure continuity and stability in its administration. He successfully steered the affairs of the university during the transitional period.

His appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere marks a new chapter in the leadership of the institution and signals renewed commitment to academic excellence and institutional development.

By Yusuf Muhammad Inuwa

Restoring trust, reforming the law, and reclaiming Nigeria’s democracy.

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC the announcement was met with cautious optimism. After years of disputed elections and waning voter confidence, Nigerians are yearning for a credible electoral umpire.

The question now is whether the new chairman can deliver the reform and integrity the system desperately needs.

A professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Amupitan is respected for his scholarship and discipline.

But beyond academic credentials, the role before him demands moral courage the ability to withstand political pressure and steer INEC toward genuine independence.

The 2023 general elections, though technologically ambitious, were marred by logistic failures, delayed result uploads, and communication breakdowns. Innovations like BVAS and IReV, designed to strengthen transparency, instead exposed deep weaknesses in planning and execution. Rebuilding trust after such disappointment will not be easy.

Amupitan’s first and most urgent task is to restore public confidence.

Nigerians must see INEC as impartial and transparent.

This means open communication, regular public reporting, and firm accountability for errors or misconduct.

The credibility gap cannot be bridged by promises only by consistent integrity in action.

Next comes technology and competence.

The digital tools deployed to secure the vote must work reliably. Before the next election cycle, INEC should conduct independent audits of BVAS and IReV, strengthen cybersecurity, and retrain staff.

In an era of digital politics, technical failure equals democratic failure.

Amupitan must also pursue legal reform and enforcement.

As a Senior Advocate, he understands that without deterrence, electoral offences will persist.

The proposed Electoral Offences Commission should be fast-tracked to ensure that vote buyers, result manipulators, and violent actors face real consequences.

Operationally, INEC must fix its logistical inefficiencies the recurring problems of late material delivery, staff shortages, and insecurity at polling units.

These are not just administrative flaws; they shape national credibility.

Transparent procurement, improved planning, and coordination with security agencies will be vital.

Equally important is voter education and inclusion.

Turnout in 2023 fell below 30 percent a warning sign for democracy.

Reversing that trend requires continuous civic education, especially among youth and rural populations. INEC must work with civil society, media, and the National Orientation Agency to make voter enlightenment a year-round exercise, not a last minute campaign.

INEC’s success depends on freedom from political interference.

Amupitan must safeguard the commission’s autonomy through transparent decision making, merit based staffing, and strict neutrality in all dealings with political parties.

In less than two years, the new chairman must rebuild structures, test systems, and restore confidence.

His first hundred days should focus on a post-election audit, broad consultations, and a reform roadmap with measurable goals.

Professor Amupitan’s appointment offers a rare chance for renewal. If he combines his legal intellect with courage and openness, he could reshape Nigeria’s electoral story.

But if he succumbs to old habits and political influence, public cynicism will only deepen.

In the end, his legacy will not be measured by how smoothly elections are conducted, but by how faithfully he protects the sanctity of the people’s vote.

Yusuf Muhd Inuwa is a journalist and political analyst writes on governance, democracy, and public accountability.
Email muhdyussy25@gmail.com

By Editor Daily Fact

The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of tenure by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 to October 2025.

The announcement was made after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council during its meeting at the State House, Abuja. The President described the nominee as an apolitical figure and the first person from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, to be nominated for the nation’s top electoral position.

Council members reportedly expressed unanimous support for the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State described Amupitan as “a man of integrity and deep intellect,” whose wealth of experience will strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.

In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Born on April 25, 1967, Professor Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a distinguished academic and legal scholar, currently serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He also holds the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

A graduate of the University of Jos, Amupitan obtained his LLB in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He earned his LLM in 1993 and completed a PhD in 2007, both from the University of Jos.

His academic career, which began in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, has seen him rise through the ranks to become one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.

Over the years, Professor Amupitan has served in several leadership positions within the university system, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

Beyond academia, he has contributed to both the private and public sectors, serving as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education. He also previously served as a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996–2004).

Professor Amupitan is a prolific author, with several publications to his credit, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), Principles of Company Law (2013), and Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).

He is married and blessed with four children.

With his confirmation by the Senate expected soon, many Nigerians are watching closely to see how Professor Amupitan will steer INEC into a new phase of electoral reforms and credibility.