President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a distinguished legal scholar from Kogi State, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The nomination, which has received the approval of the National Council of State, marks a historic appointment as Professor Amupitan becomes the first individual from the North-Central state of Kogi to be nominated for the pivotal role.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who provided details of the selection process. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit,” Onanuga stated. He further noted that the President informed the council that “Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.”
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity,” the statement confirmed.
In accordance with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Professor Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, specializing in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
His academic career began at the University of Jos in 1989, following his National Youth Service. He has held several key administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014) and currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He also chairs the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Beyond academia, Professor Amupitan has served on the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He is a prolific author of several legal textbooks, including “Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria” and “Principles of Company Law.”
Professor Amupitan is married with four children. His nomination now awaits the screening and confirmation process by the Nigerian Senate.
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