Mahwel Dismisses Allegations as Politically Motivated… urges public to rely on credible facts
Oru Leonard
A legal scholar and alumnus of University of Jos, Dr. John B. Mahwel, has come to the defence of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following criticisms from former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.
In a comprehensive statement, Mahwel described the allegations against Amupitan as unfounded and misleading, stressing that his intervention was informed by firsthand academic and professional interactions with the INEC chairman. He explained that as a member of the Faculty of Law’s 2009 graduating class, he felt obligated to clarify the issues based on verifiable facts rather than speculation.
Mahwel recounted his experience as a student under Amupitan, who taught him Law of Evidence, and later as a colleague, noting that their professional relationship spanned over a decade. He portrayed Amupitan as a principled academic who consistently supported students’ advancement strictly on merit.
While also acknowledging Dalung as a respected alumnus and former course coordinator known for his unique teaching methods, Mahwel emphasized that the current claims should be assessed within their proper context. He rejected assertions linking Amupitan to any academic wrongdoing during the 2009 session, explaining that discrepancies recorded at the time were traced to administrative lapses involving non-academic staff.
According to him, the issues were identified and addressed through internal mechanisms under Amupitan’s leadership as Dean, resulting in corrections to affected results and, in some cases, delayed graduations. He maintained that such actions demonstrated institutional accountability rather than misconduct.
Mahwel further dismissed claims that a serving Deputy Inspector General of Police was part of the disputed 2009 graduating set, stating that no such individual existed in his class to his knowledge. On allegations that Amupitan hindered Dalung’s academic progress, he argued that the timeline did not support the claim, noting that Amupitan was not Dean during Dalung’s postgraduate studies. He added that academic decisions are typically collective, reducing the likelihood of personal bias.
He cautioned against politicising academic matters, especially amid heightened political activities, warning that unverified claims could distort public perception and weaken confidence in key institutions.
Reaffirming Amupitan’s reputation for integrity and professionalism, Mahwel urged the public to rely on credible facts rather than politically motivated narratives.
