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), following the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure in October 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan’s nomination during the Council’s meeting on Thursday, describing him as an apolitical and highly respected legal scholar from Kogi State in Nigeria’s North-Central region. This marks the first time a candidate from the state has been nominated to head the electoral body.
Members of the Council gave their unanimous backing to the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State hailed Amupitan as a man of integrity and intellect, expressing confidence in his ability to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.
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In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu will forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation, after which he is expected to assume office as Nigeria’s next chief electoral officer.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, where he also serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is concurrently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
A seasoned academic and legal practitioner, Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Evidence Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014, after decades of distinguished legal and academic service.
He began his educational journey at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, before obtaining his LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Jos, where he later earned a PhD in Law in 2007. His academic career began in 1989, shortly after his National Youth Service with the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
Over the years, Professor Amupitan has held several key positions at UNIJOS, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and Head of the Department of Public Law. Beyond academia, he has served on multiple boards, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and Integrated Dairies Limited in Plateau State.
An accomplished author, Amupitan has written several influential books, 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).
Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children. His appointment has already sparked widespread interest and optimism, with many Nigerians expressing hope that his tenure will usher in electoral transparency, institutional reform, and renewed public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Keywords: Professor Joash Amupitan, Bola Tinubu, National Council of State, Mahmood Yakubu, Kogi State, University of Jos, Nigerian politics, electoral reform, Senate confirmation. New INEC Chairman
