Nigeria Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is from Kogi state North-Central region of Nigeria.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said that President Bola Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan as his nominee to fill the vacancy created by the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025
Apolitical and Man of Integrity
President Tinubu defended the nomination of the Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) based on his strength of character as apolitical and a man of integrity. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state attested to Professor Amupitan’s character
Constitutional Requirement
In compliance with the Nigerian constitution, President Tinubu will forward the name of Professor Amupitan to the Senate for screening.
Bio
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), was born on April 25, 1967.Fifty-eight-year-old, hailed from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State.
He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. He is also an alumnus of the university.
The new electoral boss specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
His Private Sector Experience
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), Principles of Company Law (2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
Back In Time
Historical Roll Call of Electoral Chairmen (1958 – 2025)
- Ronald Edward Wraith (1958)
- Eyo Ita Esua (1964–1966), Cross River State (South-South)
- Michael Ani (1976–1979), Cross River State (South-South)
- Justice Victor Ovie-Whisky (1980–1983), Delta State (South-South)
- Professor Eme Awa (1987–1989), Southeast
- Professor Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), South-East
- Professor Okon Edet Uya (1993), Akwa Ibom State (South-South)
- Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), Rivers State (South-South)
- Justice Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), Edo State (South-South)
- Dr Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Edo State (South-South)
- Professor Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), Imo State (South-East)
- Professor Attahiru Jega (2010–2015), Kebbi State (North-West)
- Mrs Amina Bala Zakari (Acting, 2015), Jigawa State (North-West)
- Professor Mahmood Yakubu (2015–present), Kogi State (North-Central)
Read Also UPDATED: INEC Chairmen in Nigeria from 1960 till date – InfomediaNG
Media Pushes for Credible Electoral Reforms in Nigeria
About the Author
