The National Council of State has endorsed the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the council on Thursday, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.

According to President Tinubu, Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is the first nominee from the North-Central state to be considered for the top electoral post. The President described him as non-partisan, a quality he said is critical for the role.

Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commending Amupitan as a man of integrity.

In line with constitutional provisions, the President is expected to forward the nominee’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

Amupitan, currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos, is a Professor of Law and a distinguished academic. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has built an extensive career spanning corporate governance, evidence law, company law, and privatisation law.

Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, between 1982 and 1984 before earning his LL.B. from the University of Jos in 1987. He was called to the Bar in 1988, obtained an LL.M. from the same university in 1993, and later completed his PhD in 2007.

His academic career began in 1989 after his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. He has since held several leadership roles at the University of Jos, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

Beyond academia, Amupitan has served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State, and has held board and council positions with institutions such as 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 published 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).

Amupitan is married with four children.