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), according to presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
This follows President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of his nomination at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
The appointment comes after the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
President Tinubu described Amupitan as “a man of integrity and a nonpartisan professional,” noting that he is the first person from Kogi State in Nigeria’s North-Central region to be nominated for the role.
The president is expected to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation, in line with constitutional procedure.
The Lawyer and Law Professor
Amupitan, 58, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).
He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
An indigene of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law.
He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014.
He holds degrees from Kwara State Polytechnic and the University of Jos, including a PhD in Law (2007).
Over his academic career, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and Head of the Department of Public Law at UNIJOS.
Outside academia, Amupitan has held several leadership and advisory positions, including membership of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, the Council of Legal Education, and the board of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom.
