The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council to fill the vacancy created by the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
President Tinubu was quoted as saying that Amupitan, a native of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central state to be nominated for the position. He described the nominee as “apolitical and eminently qualified.”
The Council unanimously endorsed the nomination, with Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as “a man of integrity.”
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu will forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Aged 58, Professor Amupitan is a distinguished scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos and is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
An alumnus of the University of Jos, Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
After completing his primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982–1984), and earned his LL.B from the University of Jos in 1987. He was called to the Bar in 1988, obtained his LL.M in 1993, and completed his PhD in 2007.
His academic career began in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. Over the years, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014), and Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008) at the University of Jos.
Outside academia, Amupitan has held several leadership and board roles, including membership of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, the Council of Legal Education (2008–2014), and the board of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom. He was also a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996–2004).
He is the author of several books, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), Principles of Company Law (2013), and An Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children.
