Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Gets New Chairman, Council of State Approves Professor Joash Amupitan.
By Raymond Enoch
In a development that signals a new chapter for Nigeria’s electoral leadership, the National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The endorsement came during the Council’s meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025, following the completion of tenure by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 to October 2025.
In a statement issued today in Abuja and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted as describing Professor Amupitan as apolitical, deeply principled, and highly qualified for the role. The President noted that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State—and indeed the entire North-Central region—to be nominated for the position of INEC Chairman. The Council, which includes former heads of state, governors, and other high-ranking national figures, gave unanimous support to the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, speaking at the meeting, hailed Amupitan as a man of integrity and exceptional competence.
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation. If confirmed, Amupitan will assume responsibility for overseeing Nigeria’s electoral processes and guiding INEC through the next critical phase of democratic consolidation.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan is a legal scholar of national repute. He is currently a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, where he serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). In addition, he is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. A product of Kwara State Polytechnic and the University of Jos, Amupitan obtained his LL.B in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He later earned his LL.M in 1993 and his Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos.
His academic career, which began in 1989 after completing his national service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, has been marked by significant contributions to legal education and institutional leadership. He served as Head of the Department of Public Law from 2006 to 2008, Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2008 to 2014, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors from 2012 to 2014. In recognition of his contributions to the legal profession, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.
Outside the academic environment, Professor Amupitan has held numerous positions in the public and private sectors. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited between 1996 and 2004, and currently sits on the board of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom. He has also served as a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and was on the Council of Legal Education from 2008 to 2014.
A prolific author, Amupitan has published several widely used legal texts, including 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 Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014). His works are widely referenced in academic and legal circles across the country.
Professor Amupitan is married and has four children. His nomination has been met with broad approval and optimism from across the political and legal spectrum. With the confirmation process now in the hands of the Senate, public expectations are high that his leadership will bring renewed integrity, transparency, and professionalism to INEC.
