The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the recommendation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The appointment comes after the completion of the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025. The approval marks a significant milestone, as Amupitan becomes the first person from Kogi State and the North-Central region to be nominated for the nation’s top electoral office since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
During the Council of State meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized that the nomination of Professor Amupitan reflects his administration’s commitment to competence, fairness, and regional inclusivity. He described the appointee as a non-partisan academic of exceptional integrity and professional distinction.
“Professor Amupitan embodies the values of transparency, excellence, and independence that are crucial to strengthening our electoral process. His appointment is a testament to our resolve to uphold democracy and the rule of law,” the President stated.
Council members unanimously endorsed the nomination. The Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, speaking on behalf of his counterparts, lauded the President’s choice, describing Professor Amupitan as “a man of proven integrity, intellectual depth, and moral fortitude.”
In accordance with constitutional provisions, the President is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A renowned academic and legal scholar, he currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State, and is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A graduate and alumnus of the University of Jos, Amupitan holds an LL.B (1987), LL.M (1993), and Ph.D (2007) from the same institution. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and began his teaching career at UNIJOS in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) since 2014, Professor Amupitan is a specialist in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. His career at UNIJOS has seen him hold several strategic academic and administrative positions, 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, Amupitan has also played notable roles in both public and private sectors. He has served as a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, a member of the Council of Legal Education, and a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, among others.
An accomplished author, he has written several authoritative texts, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
