President Bola Tinubu has explained that his decision to nominate Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was guided by the scholar’s integrity, non-partisan character, and exceptional service record.
Speaking during Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of State held at the State House, Abuja, the President said Amupitan, a professor of law from Kogi State, represents a fresh step toward strengthening public trust in the nation’s electoral system.
“Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, a North-Central state, to be nominated for this position, and he is apolitical,” Tinubu told the council, according to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The council, comprising former and serving national leaders, gave unanimous approval to the nomination, commending the appointee’s reputation for honesty and professional excellence. Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, described the nominee as “a man whose track record reflects deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”
Following the endorsement, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, as required by the Constitution.
Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and also chairs the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
A distinguished academic, he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos after earlier studies at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014.
Over the past three decades, Amupitan has combined a career in teaching and administration with contributions to corporate and legal governance. His publications include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Beyond academia, he has served on several boards such as the Council of Legal Education, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Integrated Dairies Limited, and Riss Oil Limited.
Colleagues often describe him as “a jurist of quiet influence.” He is married and has four children. Upon Senate confirmation, Professor Amupitan will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose 10-year tenure ended earlier this week.