Council of State confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan as new INEC Chair

The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The announcement was made on Thursday following the Council’s meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

According to a statement posted by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the nomination of Professor Amupitan received unanimous support from members of the Council.

President Tinubu, while presenting the nominee, said Amupitan’s appointment reflects a renewed commitment to transparency and inclusivity in Nigeria’s electoral leadership. He also noted that the appointee, a 58-year-old law professor, is the first person from the North-Central region to hold the position.

The President informed the Council that Amupitan’s name would be transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in line with the constitutional provisions guiding appointments into the Commission.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who attended the meeting, described Amupitan as “a man of proven integrity and depth.”

Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

He obtained his LL.B from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He later earned his LL.M and Ph.D from the same institution in 1993 and 2007 respectively.

Since joining the University of Jos as a lecturer in 1989, Amupitan has held several senior positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State, and sits on several national boards, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

Professor Amupitan is widely regarded for his scholarly works on Corporate Governance, Company Law, and Evidence Law, with notable publications such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008) and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013).

He has four children and is celebrated within academic and legal circles for his emphasis on ethical leadership and judicial integrity.

The appointment marks the beginning of a new phase for the electoral body following the completion of a ten-year tenure by outgoing chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who oversaw three general elections during his service.