President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The announcement was made after the National Council of State gave its approval on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new era of leadership at the electoral body. Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has overseen the commission since 2015. The Presidency described the new appointee as a seasoned academic and legal professional known for integrity and excellence. His appointment is also historic, as he becomes the first person from Kogi State and the North-Central region to lead Nigeria’s electoral commission.
A native of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos. He began his academic career at the same university in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose steadily through the ranks to become a Professor of Law in 2008. He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his training at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
With over three decades of professional and academic experience, Amupitan is widely respected for his expertise in Corporate Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession. At the University of Jos, he has held several key leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.
Outside the classroom, Professor Amupitan has served in several national capacities. He has represented the University of Jos on the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Until his nomination, he was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State. He has also served on the boards of private organizations, including Integrated Dairies Limited and Riss Oil Limited.
A prolific academic, Amupitan has authored and co-authored more than 50 scholarly works covering topics such as corporate governance, electoral reform, and petroleum legislation. He has supervised numerous postgraduate theses and remains an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.
His appointment has been met with positive reactions across the country, with many stakeholders describing it as a step toward inclusive leadership and institutional credibility. The nomination will be forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional requirements. Professor Amupitan is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and they are blessed with four children.
