The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The decision followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of the law professor to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently came to an end.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Council unanimously endorsed Amupitan’s nomination during its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Tinubu described Amupitan as a man of integrity and the first person from Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, to be nominated for the position. The President noted that the nominee is apolitical and possesses the intellectual and moral qualities required to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic governance in Nigeria.
The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, who attended the Council meeting, also commended the President’s choice, describing Amupitan as a patriotic Nigerian whose appointment would inspire public confidence in INEC.
In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu is expected to forward the nomination to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
About Prof. Joash Amupitan
Prof. Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, where he has served in various capacities, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.
He obtained his early education at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982–1984), before proceeding to the University of Jos, where he earned his LL.B (1987), LL.M (1993), and Ph.D (2007) in Law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Beyond academia, Amupitan has contributed to national development through his service on various corporate and educational boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, and the Council of Legal Education. He is also the author of several books and scholarly articles on legal practice, ethics, and public policy.
