INEC Chairman” />
The National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This development was officially announced on Thursday via a statement posted on X by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson.
At the Council’s meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Bola Tinubu formally put forward Amupitan’s name for the leadership role.
The appointment follows the conclusion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s ten-year term as INEC Chairman in October 2025.
Here are ten key insights about Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, the newly appointed INEC Chairman:
1. Roots in Kogi State
Professor Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede, located in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. His appointment marks a rare representation from Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone among INEC leadership.
2. Distinguished Law Professor at the University of Jos
He serves as a Law professor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he has spent over three decades mentoring and shaping future legal experts and academics.
3. Specialist in Corporate and Evidence Law
His academic and professional expertise spans Company Law, Evidence Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law, reflecting a comprehensive mastery of both theoretical frameworks and practical legal applications.
4. Awarded the Prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Title
In September 2014, Amupitan was conferred with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank, a prestigious honor recognizing his exceptional contributions to the Nigerian legal profession.
5. Over 35 Years of Academic Service
Beginning his academic journey in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, he has accumulated more than three and a half decades of experience in legal education.
6. Held Prominent Administrative Positions at UNIJOS
Throughout his career at the University of Jos, he has occupied several key leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014), Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014), Head of Public Law (2006-2008), and currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).
7. Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chair at Joseph Ayo Babalola University
Beyond his commitments at UNIJOS, Amupitan also holds the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State, underscoring his influential role in Nigerian higher education governance.
8. Broad Engagements Outside Academia
His professional portfolio includes serving on the board of Integrated Dairies Limited (Vom) and previous appointments on the Council of Legal Education, the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the board of Riss Oil Limited.
9. Author of Seminal Legal Works
Amupitan has penned several authoritative legal texts widely adopted in Nigerian universities and law faculties, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013).
10. Academic Journey from Kwara Polytechnic to University of Jos
Born on April 25, 1967, he began his education at Kwara State Polytechnic (1982-1984) before advancing to the University of Jos (1984-1987). He later earned his LLM in 1993 and PhD in 2007 from the same institution, eventually rising to become a celebrated professor and alumnus.