Legal Scholar Defends INEC Chairman, Dismisses Dalung’s Allegations

By Iyojo Ameh

A legal scholar, Dr. John B. Mahwel, has defended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, against allegations made by former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, describing the claims as false and misleading.

Mahwel, an alumnus of the University of Jos Faculty of Law, said his intervention was aimed at setting the record straight, drawing from his experience as both a student and later a lecturer under Prof.

He acknowledged both Amupitan and Dalung as distinguished alumni of the institution but stressed that his position was based on verifiable facts rather than sentiment or shared background.

Recounting his academic experience, Mahwel said he was taught Law of Evidence by Amupitan and later worked alongside him for over a decade. He described the INEC chairman as a disciplined academic who supported his career strictly on merit.

On Dalung, Mahwel noted that he was known for his distinctive teaching style during his time as a course coordinator before venturing into politics and rising to a ministerial position.

Addressing the core allegations, Mahwel rejected claims that Amupitan was involved in academic misconduct during the 2009 academic session. He explained that while issues relating to result discrepancies occurred at the time, they were traced to administrative lapses involving non-academic staff.

According to him, it was under Amupitan’s leadership as Dean that the irregularities were uncovered and corrected through an internal review process. He said the exercise led to the reversal of improperly awarded grades and, in some cases, delayed graduations.

Mahwel described the actions taken as evidence of institutional integrity rather than wrongdoing.

He also dismissed claims that a serving Deputy Inspector General of Police was among graduates with disputed results in the 2009 set, stating that no such individual existed to his knowledge.

On allegations that Amupitan victimised Dalung academically, Mahwel argued that the timeline did not support such claims. He noted that Amupitan was not Dean during Dalung’s postgraduate studies and emphasised that academic decisions are typically made collectively, limiting the influence of any single individual.

While expressing respect for both figures, Mahwel cautioned against politicising sensitive institutional matters, especially in a tense political climate. He warned that unverified claims could mislead the public and erode trust in key national institutions.
Mahwel reaffirmed that Prof.

Amupitan’s record reflects professionalism and integrity, urging the public to rely on verified facts rather than politically charged narratives.