President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), pending confirmation by the Senate.
According to News360 Nigeria, the National Council of State gave unanimous approval to Amupitan’s nomination on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the appointment follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s decade-long tenure, which began in 2015 and ended this month.
President Tinubu described Professor Amupitan as an “apolitical figure” and commended his record of academic excellence and integrity, highlighting that he is the first person from Kogi State, in the North-Central region, to be nominated for the position.
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo also lauded the choice, describing Amupitan as “a man of integrity and profound intellect.”
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is currently a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, and also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2014, Amupitan holds both LLM (1993) and PhD (2007) degrees from the University of Jos. He began his academic career in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
Over the years, he has held several key academic and administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and membership on national legal education boards.
A respected author and thought leader, Professor Amupitan has published extensively on corporate law, governance, and evidence, with notable works such as “Corporate Governance: Models and Principles” and “Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria.”
He is married and blessed with four children.
