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).
According to Mediaplusng.com, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan as his nominee to fill the position left vacant by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
President Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan, who hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first nominee from the North-Central region to lead the electoral body. The President also described him as a highly principled and apolitical individual.
Council members reportedly gave unanimous approval to the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State commended the decision, describing Amupitan as “a man of proven integrity and professional excellence.” In line with the Nigerian Constitution, President Tinubu will now forward the nomination to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
—
Who Is Professor Joash Amupitan?
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, aged 58, is a renowned Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He also chairs the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and obtained his LLB from the University of Jos in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and later earned his LLM (1993) and PhD (2007) from the same university. His academic journey began in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
Mediaplusng.com reports that Amupitan became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 and is an expert in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. Over the years, he has held several leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014) and Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014) at UNIJOS.
Outside academia, Amupitan has served as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, and previously of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja. He has also contributed to the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education.
A prolific author, he has written several notable books, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles, Documentary Evidence in Nigeria, Principles of Company Law, and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria.
Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children.
