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…Tinubu Hails Appointee’s Integrity

…Says Nomination Reflects Inclusiveness and Merit
…Senate to Screen Nominee

The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The endorsement came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented his nomination to the Council during its meeting at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who had served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.

President Tinubu, while presenting the nominee, described Professor Amupitan as a distinguished academic and legal scholar of unimpeachable character, integrity, and competence. He explained that the new nominee, who hails from Kogi State in the North-Central geopolitical zone, is the first person from the state to be nominated for the position of INEC Chairman. According to the President, Amupitan’s background as an apolitical figure and his professional achievements make him eminently qualified to lead the electoral commission at a time when Nigeria is focused on strengthening electoral integrity and deepening democratic institutions.

The Council of State, which includes serving and former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Governors, and former Chief Justices of Nigeria, reportedly reached a unanimous decision to approve the nomination. The meeting was said to have been marked by broad consensus and commendations for the President’s choice, with many members describing the appointment as a step toward restoring public trust in the electoral process. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, speaking after the meeting, hailed the decision and praised Professor Amupitan as a man of integrity, discipline, and proven administrative competence.

With the Council’s approval, the President is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with the constitutional procedure. The nomination has already generated widespread interest across political and civil society circles, coming at a time when the nation is preparing for the 2027 general elections and renewed debates over electoral reform.

Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan has had an illustrious academic and legal career spanning more than three decades. He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, where he also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. A scholar of company law, evidence, and corporate governance, Amupitan is widely respected in the Nigerian legal community for his contributions to legal education and institutional reform.

After completing his early education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, between 1982 and 1984, before proceeding to the University of Jos, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1987.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his training at the Nigerian Law School. His academic pursuit continued with a Master of Laws degree from the same university in 1993 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2007. Following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation between 1988 and 1989, he joined the University of Jos as a lecturer and has since risen through the ranks to become a professor of law.

He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014, a recognition of his outstanding professional excellence and contributions to legal scholarship.

Throughout his career, Professor Amupitan has combined intellectual rigor with administrative acumen, serving the University of Jos in various leadership capacities, including as Head of the Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.

He has also contributed significantly to national institutions such as the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Beyond academia, he has served on the boards of several private and public sector organizations, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom and Riss Oil Limited in Abuja.

An accomplished author, Professor Amupitan has written several influential books and scholarly works in law, including texts on corporate governance, evidence, and company law, which are widely used by students, practitioners, and policymakers.

His works reflect a lifelong commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and professionalism within Nigeria’s legal and governance systems.

A devoted family man, Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children. Colleagues describe him as humble, principled, and deeply committed to service, with a passion for fairness and justice that aligns with the expectations of the office he is set to occupy.

The State House statement announcing his nomination, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described Amupitan’s appointment as a deliberate effort by the Tinubu administration to consolidate electoral credibility and institutional reforms.

Onanuga stated that the President’s nomination demonstrates confidence in the ability of a new generation of leaders to guide Nigeria’s democratic institutions toward transparency and accountability.

Political observers have described the Council’s unanimous decision as significant, given the diversity of its membership and the often-divided nature of Nigeria’s political elite. Many view the consensus as a strong endorsement of Amupitan’s character and competence, as well as a reflection of the government’s commitment to merit-based appointments.

If confirmed by the Senate, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan will succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the seventh Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission since its establishment in 1998. His tenure, if approved, will coincide with preparations for the 2027 general elections, positioning him at the heart of one of Nigeria’s most critical democratic transitions.

The appointment has been widely welcomed as a hopeful signal of reform, continuity, and inclusiveness in the country’s democratic evolution, with expectations high that the incoming INEC leadership will uphold the principles of fairness, credibility, and institutional independence in the conduct of Nigeria’s elections.

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