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).
The appointment follows the completion of the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan’s nomination to the Council during its meeting at the State House, Abuja. The President noted that Amupitan, from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central region to be nominated for the position. He also described the nominee as apolitical and a person of integrity.
Council members unanimously endorsed the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State commending Professor Amupitan as “a man of integrity and exceptional intellect.”
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Aged 58, Professor Amupitan is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, where he has spent most of his academic career. He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) since 2014, Amupitan is a specialist in Company Law, Evidence Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He earned his LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Jos, and completed his PhD in 2007.
Throughout his distinguished career, he has held several leadership roles at UNIJOS, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of Public Law Department, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.
Beyond academia, Professor Amupitan has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, Riss Oil Limited, the Council of Legal Education, and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
He is the author of multiple legal textbooks, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008) and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013). Professor Amupitan is married with four children.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
