By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The National Council of State has approved Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signaling the start of a new leadership phase for the electoral body.
President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name on October 8 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to fill the vacancy left by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who led INEC from 2015 until October 2025.
The President said the nomination reflects his administration’s commitment to credible elections and regional representation, highlighting that Amupitan is the first nominee from Kogi State in the North-Central zone.
Council members unanimously endorsed the appointment. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State described Amupitan as “a man of integrity and discipline” whose contributions to legal education and public service “speak for themselves.”
A professor of law at the University of Jos, Amupitan, 58, has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and chaired the Council of Legal Education. He was called to the Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014.
The President will forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Upon approval, he will oversee the next phase of INEC’s electoral reforms in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
