The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan’s nomination during the Council of State meeting held on Thursday, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
President Tinubu informed the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State and the North-Central region to be nominated for the position, describing him as an apolitical figure with unquestionable integrity and a distinguished record in law and governance.
Council members unanimously endorsed the nomination, with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commending the President’s choice and describing Professor Amupitan as “a man of integrity and excellence.”
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu will forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A Professor of Law at the University of Jos, he currently serves as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2014, Amupitan is an alumnus of the University of Jos, where he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law. His areas of specialization include Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.
He began his academic career in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation and has since held several positions at the University of Jos, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.
Outside academia, Professor Amupitan has served on several national and corporate boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and the Council of Legal Education.
He is also a prolific author, with several notable publications to his name, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children.
The appointment, observers say, underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to merit, regional balance, and credible leadership within Nigeria’s electoral system.
