The National Council of State has unanimously approved Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 to October 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presenting Amupitan’s nomination, highlighted him as the first Kogi native from the North-Central region to be nominated for the role, emphasizing his apolitical stance. “Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical,” Tinubu told the council.
The nomination received full support from council members, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo praising Amupitan’s character, stating, “Amupitan is a man of integrity.” In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.
Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State. A Professor of Law at the University of Jos, he specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He earned his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title in September 2014.
His academic journey began at Kwara State Polytechnic (1982-1984), followed by the University of Jos (1984-1987), where he earned his law degree and was called to the bar in 1988. He obtained an LLM in 1993 and a PhD in 2007 from UNIJOS, where he currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). Amupitan also holds the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
His extensive academic leadership includes roles such as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014) and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014) at UNIJOS. Beyond academia, Amupitan is a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, among other roles.
A prolific author, Amupitan has published 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).
Amupitan, born on April 25, 1967, is married with four children. His nomination marks a significant milestone as he prepares to lead Nigeria’s electoral body pending Senate confirmation.