The National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The nomination, presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.

Addressing the Council during its meeting, President Tinubu described Professor Amupitan as a distinguished scholar of integrity and the first person from Kogi State to be nominated for the position. The nomination received unanimous support from Council members, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo commending the nominee’s character and professional track record.

In accordance with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

Born on April 25, 1967, Professor Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is currently a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he also serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). Additionally, he is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

An accomplished academic and legal expert, Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He earned his LLM from UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, after being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.

His career began after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation between 1988 and 1989. Since joining the University of Jos in 1989, he has held several leadership roles, including Dean, Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head, Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

Outside academia, Professor Amupitan has served on multiple boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited (Vom), the Council of Legal Education (2008–2014), and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council. He was also a Board Member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja, between 1996 and 2004.

A prolific author, he has written several influential books, including 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).

Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children.