The National Council of State has approved President Bola Tinubu’s nominee, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who concluded his tenure earlier in October 2025.
This development was made public via a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Assistant on Information and Strategy.
According to the release, the council gave unanimous support to Amupitan’s nomination during its Thursday meeting.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, praised Amupitan as “a man of integrity.”
In line with constitutional procedure, President Tinubu is expected to forward the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.
Until the Senate acts, May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner at INEC, is serving as Acting Chair.
She took over after Professor Yakubu completed his second five-year term, having served as INEC Chairman since 2015.
Profile of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Kogi State’s Ijumu Local Government Area.
He is a legal scholar and a professor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, where he also obtained both his LLB and postgraduate degrees.
He earned his LLM in 1993 and a PhD in Law in 2007.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Amupitan has built a distinguished academic and professional career.
He began lecturing at UNIJOS in 1989 after his NYSC at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. Over the years, he has served in several key academic roles, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos, Dean, Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014) and Head, Department of Public Law (2006–2008).
Beyond the university, Amupitan is also the Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
He has served on the boards of Riss Oil Limited and Integrated Dairies Ltd, and has been part of the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council.
His contributions to legal scholarship include several acclaimed books, 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) as well as Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014)
Amupitan became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014. He is married and has four children.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that Senate confirmation is being awaited.
