The National Council of State has approved President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next INEC Chairman.
His name will be sent to the Senate for confirmation.
The National Council of State has unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The appointment follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, which spanned from 2015 to October 2025.
President Tinubu, while presenting Amupitan to the Council, said his nomination marks the first time a candidate from Kogi State would be considered for the top electoral position. He also described him as a non-partisan professional with an unimpeachable record.
Members of the Council gave their full support to the recommendation, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo commending the nominee’s reputation for integrity and excellence.
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan is a distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he is also a Professor of Law.
Amupitan’s expertise spans Company Law, the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatization Law. He earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos, where he has lectured since 1989.
He began his academic career shortly after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation between 1988 and 1989.
Over the years, he has held several key administrative roles at the University of Jos, including 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).
Beyond academia, Amupitan sits on the boards of various organizations, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, and has served on national bodies such as the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education.
He was also a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja, from 1996 to 2004, and currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
