The National Council of State has endorsed the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a historic first for Kogi State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the council following the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who led INEC from 2015 until October 2025. According to presidential spokesman Chief Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized Amupitan’s apolitical stance and integrity, noting he is the first nominee from Kogi in the North-Central region to be considered for the role.
The council unanimously backed the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo praising Amupitan’s character and professional reputation. In line with constitutional procedure, Tinubu will forward the nomination to the Senate for screening.
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he also serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). His academic journey began at Kwara State Polytechnic and continued at UNIJOS, where he earned his LLB, LLM, and PhD.
Amupitan’s legal expertise spans Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has held several key academic and administrative roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors at UNIJOS.
Beyond academia, he has served on various boards and councils, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
A prolific author, Amupitan has published several influential legal texts, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria. He is married with four children.
