President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The National Council of State unanimously endorsed the appointment during its recent meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The nomination follows the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, who had served as INEC Chairman since 2015. President Tinubu described Amupitan as an apolitical and highly respected scholar—the first person from Kogi State to be nominated for the position.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State praised the nominee, calling him “a man of integrity.” The President is expected to forward the nomination to the Senate for confirmation, in line with constitutional requirements.
Professor Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is currently a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), and also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A specialist in Company Law, Corporate Governance, Evidence Law, and Privatisation Law, Amupitan became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Born on April 25, 1967, he earned his LLB (1987), LLM (1993), and PhD (2007) from UNIJOS. His professional journey began after his NYSC at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in 1989.
Within academia, he has held several leadership roles, including 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 the university, Amupitan has served on several corporate and legal boards such as Integrated Dairies Ltd, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education.
He is the author of several notable law books, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008) and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013). He is married with four children.
