Abuja: The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This decision follows the vacancy left by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 until October 2025.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Tinubu had presented Amupitan as the nominee for this critical position. Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, conveyed that the President informed the council members about Amupitan’s nomination, highlighting that he is the first individual from Kogi, North-Central state, to be nominated for this role and emphasized his apolitical stance. The council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Gov. Usman Ododo praising Amupitan’s integrity.
In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening. Prof. Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi and is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. His academic focus includes Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was awarded the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Prof. Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967. After completing his primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin from 1982 to 1984 and proceeded to the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988, earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993, and completed his PhD in 2007. His academic career began in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
Currently, Amupitan serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a role he holds alongside being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. His previous positions at UNIJOS include Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Head of Public Law.
Beyond academics, Amupitan is a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council. He was also a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja, from 1996 to 2004. His contributions to legal literature include several books on law, such as “Corporate Governance: Models and Principles” (2008) and “Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria” (2013).
Prof. Amupitan is married and has four children.