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 completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure in October 2025.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who presented Amupitan’s nomination during the Council’s meeting at the State House, Abuja, said the legal scholar represents integrity, competence, and regional inclusion.

He noted that Amupitan, from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first North-Central nominee to head the nation’s electoral body since its establishment.

The Council members, including former Heads of State, former Presidents, and state governors, gave unanimous support to the nomination.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State described Professor Amupitan as a man of “rare character and deep intellect,” commending the President for his fair consideration of the North-Central region in such a critical appointment.

In accordance with constitutional provisions, President Tinubu is expected to transmit Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Once approved, he will succeed Professor Yakubu, who oversaw two general elections during his tenure from 2015 to 2025.

Professor Amupitan, 58, currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and doubles as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2014, he is renowned for his scholarship in Company Law, Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.

Beyond academia, Amupitan has served on several national and private sector boards, including the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

He has authored several widely cited law texts, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria. He is married with four children.