The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The approval came during the Council’s meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following the presentation of Amupitan’s nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Amupitan, a renowned legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kogi State, succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose ten-year tenure as INEC Chairman ended in October 2025 after serving two terms.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the Council gave unanimous support to Amupitan’s nomination.
President Tinubu described the nominee as “an apolitical technocrat with vast experience and impeccable integrity,” adding that he is the first person from Kogi State to be appointed to head the electoral body.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State also commended the choice of Amupitan, describing him as “a man of high moral standing and exceptional competence.”
Following the Council’s endorsement, the President is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in line with constitutional provisions.
Profile of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN)
Born on April 25, 1967, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State.
He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A distinguished academic and legal practitioner, Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
He obtained his National Diploma in Law from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982–1984) and proceeded to the University of Jos (1984–1987) for his Bachelor’s degree in Law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, earned his Master of Laws (LLM) in 1993, and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2007.
Professor Amupitan began his academic career at the University of Jos in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. Over the years, he has held several key positions including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).
Outside academia, he has served on several corporate and public boards such as Integrated Dairies Limited, Riss Oil Limited, and the Council of Legal Education. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
A prolific author, Professor Amupitan has published several books and scholarly works, 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).
He is married and blessed with four children.
