Nigeria’s National Council of State has endorsed the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s decade-long tenure.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the development in a statement on Thursday, noting that President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the council during its meeting in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu described the nominee as “apolitical” and the first person from Kogi State — in Nigeria’s North-Central region — to be put forward for the top electoral role. The council reportedly gave its unanimous support, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo calling Amupitan “a man of integrity.”
In line with constitutional procedure, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A seasoned legal scholar, he is currently a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, as well as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
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A member of the Nigerian Bar since 1988, Amupitan earned his LLM in 1993 and a PhD in 2007 from the University of Jos. He rose through academia as Head of Public Law (2006–2008), Dean of Law (2008–2014), and later Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014). He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Beyond academia, he has served on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited, Riss Oil Limited, and several legal education bodies, including the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
A prolific author, Amupitan has published influential works such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008) and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013). He is married with four children.
Following Yakubu’s exit after serving two five-year terms, May Agbamuche-Mbu, the oldest serving National Commissioner at INEC, will continue in an acting capacity until Amupitan’s confirmation.