The National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council to fill the vacancy created by the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 until October 2025.

Tinubu described the nominee as the first person from Kogi State to be considered for the position, noting that he is apolitical and widely respected in legal and academic circles.

Council members endorsed the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as “a man of integrity.”

In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu will forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

A Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, he is also the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university and serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.

Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan obtained his first degree in law from UNIJOS in 1987 and was called to the bar in 1988.

He earned his LLM from the same institution in 1993 and his PhD in 2007.

He began his academic career in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.

Over the years, he has held key academic positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014), Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014), and Head of Public Law (2006–2008).

Outside academia, Amupitan has served on several corporate and legal boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and the Council of Legal Education.

He has authored several books on law, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008) and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013). He is married with four children.