By Peterside Rejoice, Abuja
The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the end of tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, considered the nomination of Professor Amupitan, who hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria.
In presenting the nominee, President Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan, a distinguished academic and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is apolitical and well qualified to lead the electoral body. He noted that Amupitan’s appointment marks the first time a person from Kogi State and the North-Central region will occupy the position of INEC Chairman.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, members of the Council unanimously endorsed the nomination.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, while speaking at the meeting, described Professor Amupitan as a man of integrity, excellence, and proven competence, noting that his appointment reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to fairness and meritocracy.
In line with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he also serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A product of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and the University of Jos, where he obtained his LLB in 1987, Amupitan was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He later bagged his LLM in 1993 and a PhD in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos.
He began his academic career in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation and has since risen through the ranks to become one of Nigeria’s most respected law professors.
Professor Amupitan’s areas of specialization include Company Law, Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law. He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
At UNIJOS, he has held several administrative and academic positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014), and Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008).
Beyond the academic environment, Amupitan has served on several boards and governing councils, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, Integrated Dairies Limited, and Riss Oil Limited.
He is also a prolific author with several notable works, 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, 58, is married and blessed with four children.
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