The National Council of State on Thursday unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, as his preferred candidate to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended in October 2025 after serving since 2015.
President Tinubu, while addressing members of the Council at the State House, Abuja, described Amupitan as “an accomplished academic and a man of integrity” whose appointment would further strengthen the nation’s electoral process.
“This nomination is in recognition of Professor Amupitan’s long-standing commitment to transparency, fairness, and academic excellence,” the President said. “He is the first person from Kogi State, in the North-Central region, to be nominated for this important position, and he has remained apolitical throughout his career.”
Members of the Council reportedly endorsed the nomination unanimously. Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, who spoke after the meeting, described the nominee as “a man of proven integrity and sound intellect.”
“Professor Amupitan is not only a legal scholar of repute but also someone who has consistently demonstrated fairness and professionalism in his work,” Ododo stated.
In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, the 58-year-old scholar is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos and also serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Amupitan obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He later earned an LLM from the same university in 1993 and a PhD in 2007.
Over the years, he has served in various academic and administrative capacities, including as 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 has been involved in governance and corporate leadership. He has served as a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008–2014), a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, and was on the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
A prolific author, Amupitan has written extensively on company law, corporate governance, and evidence law. His notable works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
He is married and blessed with four children.
