The National Council of State has approved Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the new INEC Chairman.
Following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s resignation, President Bola Tinubu nominated Amupitan for the role, according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. Yakubu’s tenure began in 2015 and was set to end in October 2025.
President Tinubu said Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, the INEC Chairman nominee, is apolitical and the first from Kogi State.
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity,” the statement read.
“In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening,” it added.
Amupitan, 58, is a law professor at the University of Jos in Plateau State. He hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State, and is a distinguished academic. His expertise spans corporate governance, privatization law, evidence law, and company law.
He earned his LLB from the University of Jos (1984-1987) and attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982-1984). He joined the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.
Amupitan began his academic career in 1989 after completing his NYSC at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation (1988-1989). He obtained his LLM from UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007.
He serves as Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
At UNIJOS, Amupitan previously held key roles including Head of Public Law (2006-2008), Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014).
Beyond academia, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has made significant contributions to legal governance. He serves on the boards of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and Integrated Dairies Limited. From 1996 to 2004, he also sat on the board of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.
He is married and has four children.
