President Bola Tinubu has justified his nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), pointing to his non-partisan orientation, unimpeachable integrity, and distinguished public service record. The announcement, delivered by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, came during a meeting of the National Council of State in Abuja, where the nomination was met with unanimous endorsement.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized that Amupitan is the first individual from Kogi State, located in central Nigeria, to be considered for the INEC chairmanship. The President highlighted that the nominee’s apolitical stance set him apart as a suitable candidate to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose ten-year tenure concluded recently.
Council members—including current and former political leaders—praised Amupitan’s reputation for moral probity and commitment to public good. The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, described the professor’s professional history as illustrative of a deep devotion to justice, scholarship, and national service.
Once the Council’s approval is formalized, Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for constitutional screening and confirmation. The nominee, aged 58 and hailing from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area, is currently a law professor at the University of Jos. He also holds roles as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at Jos and as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Amupitan’s academic credentials include a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Law from the University of Jos, following earlier studies at the Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin. Since being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, he has built a longstanding record in academia, legal scholarship, and governance. In 2014, he was elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He has authored significant works on corporate governance, evidence law, and company law, and has served on several national boards. His previous board roles include service with Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education, among others. His legal and administrative career spans over three decades.
If confirmed by the Senate, Professor Amupitan would become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman.
