President Bola Tinubu has shed light on the reasons behind his appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying his decision was guided by Amupitan’s integrity, competence, and non-partisan character.
Speaking on Thursday at the National Council of State meeting held inside the State House, Abuja, Tinubu described the Kogi-born law professor as a man of honour and sound judgment whose record of service speaks for itself.
“Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, a North-Central state, to be nominated for the position. He is apolitical and has demonstrated excellence throughout his career,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Council of State, made up of serving and former presidents, vice presidents, governors, and key national leaders, unanimously endorsed Amupitan’s nomination to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose 10-year tenure as INEC boss ended on Tuesday.
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, praised the choice, saying the nominee’s “track record reflects a deep commitment to justice, scholarship, and national service.”
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Following the council’s approval, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation as required by the Constitution.
Who is Professor Joash Amupitan?
Aged 58, Professor Joash Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos, Plateau State, and also serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Amupitan obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos after studying at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
With a distinguished academic and administrative career spanning over three decades, Amupitan has written extensively on company law, evidence law, and corporate governance. His notable 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 the classroom, he has served on several national boards, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom. Between 1996 and 2004, he also sat on the board of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.
Widely regarded by colleagues as a “jurist of quiet influence,” Amupitan is married with four children.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman — taking over the reins of the country’s top electoral body at a crucial moment for its democratic process.
