Council of State Approves Prof. Amupitan as New INEC Chairman

The tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially come to a close after two consequential five-year terms. His exit paved the way for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present a formidable nominee, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the nation’s next Chief Electoral Commissioner. The nomination of the respected legal luminary has received the crucial nod of the National Council of State, a development that signals a significant transition within Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

Dependable NG reports that the unanimous support for Professor Amupitan’s nomination by the Council of State is a testament to the extensive consultations undertaken by the Presidency to ensure a seamless leadership change in the critical body. The confirmation was formally announced in a detailed statement released on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. President Tinubu, in presenting his nominee, highlighted that Professor Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, to be nominated for the prestigious position, stressing that the nominee is politically neutral and unaligned. This emphasis on his apolitical stance was reportedly a key factor in the Council’s decision, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State describing Amupitan as a man of unquestionable integrity. The necessary constitutional compliance requires President Tinubu to now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for thorough screening and final confirmation.

Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan brings a wealth of academic and administrative experience to the demanding role. Born on April 25, 1967, the 58-year-old hails from Ayetoro Gbede in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he has spent decades contributing to legal scholarship and university administration. His academic focus is sharply tuned to crucial areas of national importance, including Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law, the last of which often intersects with election and public sector reforms—an area of professional interest confirmed by his extensive publications. In recognition of his distinguished career in the legal profession, he was conferred with the highly revered rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.

His impressive educational trajectory saw him attend Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, before obtaining his Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) from the University of Jos between 1984 and 1987. He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. Further academic excellence saw him bag a Master of Law (LL.M.) from UNIJOS in 1993 and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law in 2007. His career at the University of Jos began in 1989, and he steadily rose through the ranks, eventually serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2008 to 2014 and the Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors from 2012 to 2014. Currently, he holds the high-ranking administrative position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at UNIJOS, a responsibility he manages concurrently with his role as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

The depth of his professional engagements outside academia further solidifies his suitability for the critical INEC role. Professor Amupitan has served as a board member for various bodies, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and the Council of Legal Education. As a celebrated author, his works on Nigerian jurisprudence, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Principles of Company Law (2013), highlight his deep understanding of regulatory and administrative frameworks, which are vital for overseeing a complex electoral process. Professor Amupitan is married to Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Amupitan, and they are blessed with four children. Meanwhile, following Professor Yakubu’s departure, the most senior National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, has temporarily stepped into the role of Acting National Chairman of the electoral commission pending the successful screening and final confirmation of Professor Amupitan by the Nigerian Senate. This transition period ensures continuity in the commission’s operations as it awaits the swearing-in of its new substantive head.