October 9, 2025
The National Council of State, on Thursday approved the president Bola Tinubu’s nominee, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan SAN, from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
A statement signed by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 till October 2025.
According to the statement, President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.
“In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening,” it stated.
Amupitan, 58, was born on April 25, 1967, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a Professor of Law and also an alumnus at the University of Jos, Plateau state.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
READ MORE; Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Resigns After 10 Years As INEC Chairman
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
READ MORE;PRESIDENT TINUBU ACCEPTS INEC CHAIRMAN’S DEPARTURE, BESTOWS NATIONAL HONOUR ON HIM
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as 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).
He is married with children
