Tinubu appoints Prof. Joash Amupitan as new INEC chairman

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), following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu after nearly a decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name during the Council of State meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, describing the nominee as “apolitical” and “a man of impeccable integrity.”

The President noted that Amupitan, who hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central state to be nominated for the top electoral position.

Council members reportedly gave unanimous support to the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State describing the professor as “a man of integrity and exceptional competence.”In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.—Academic and professional background

Professor Amupitan, 58, is a respected academic and legal practitioner who currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State.

An alumnus of the same institution, Amupitan holds degrees in law from the University of Jos, including an LLM (1993) and a PhD (2007).

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after obtaining his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1987.

He began his teaching career at UNIJOS in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.

Over more than three decades in academia, he has served as 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).

Outside the university system, he has held several national and private sector appointments, including membership of the Council of Legal Education (2008–2014) and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

He is also a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.Amupitan attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014, becoming one of Nigeria’s few academics to reach that distinction while remaining active in university teaching and administration.—

Publications and contributions to legal scholarship

Professor Amupitan is widely recognized for his scholarship in Company Law, Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law.

His published works include 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).

His academic contributions have been cited in legal education and practice across Nigeria, and he is regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities in corporate law and governance.—

Transition at INEC

Professor Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025. Yakubu presided over two general elections (2019 and 2023) and multiple off-cycle polls during his tenure, making him the longest-serving electoral chief in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Under Yakubu’s leadership, INEC introduced key electoral reforms, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV)—technological tools aimed at enhancing transparency in elections.

Amupitan’s appointment comes at a time when the commission is expected to consolidate on these reforms and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the next general elections in 2027.

–Profile summary

Full name: Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN

Date of birth: April 25, 1967

State of origin: Kogi State (North-Central)

Education: Kwara State Polytechnic; University of Jos (LLB, LLM, PhD)Professional call: Nigerian Bar, 1988

Current positions: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), UNIJOS; Pro-Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Field of expertise: Company Law, Corporate Governance, Evidence Law

Marital status: Married with four children