The National Council of State has endorsed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a move that could redefine Nigeria’s electoral future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The announcement came after the Council’s meeting on Thursday, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with former Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Governors in attendance.
According to Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to fill the position vacated by Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
In line with Nigeria’s Constitution, the President will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
This approval by the Council signals a new phase in the country’s electoral leadership one that could shape the credibility, transparency, and technological evolution of future elections.
Who Is Joash Ojo Amupitan?
Professor Amupitan, aged 58, is a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a respected law professor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
A native of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, he currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at UNIJOS.
He holds an LLB from the University of Jos (1987), an LLM (1993), and a PhD in Law (2007).
After being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, he began lecturing at UNIJOS in 1989, rising through the ranks to become Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014).
Beyond academics, Amupitan has served in several key leadership roles, including:
Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014)
Head, Department of Public Law (2006–2008)
Pro-Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State
Member, Council of Legal Education (2008–2014)
Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
He is also on the board of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom.
Author and Legal Thought Leader
Amupitan is widely recognised for his academic contributions, having authored several textbooks that are essential references in Nigerian legal education. His publications include:
Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008)
Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008)
Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013)
Principles of Company Law (2013)
Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014)
Why His Appointment Matters
If confirmed by the Senate, Professor Amupitan will assume leadership of INEC at a critical time for Nigeria’s democracy.
His tenure would coincide with growing debates over electoral integrity, technological innovation, and institutional independence.
Observers believe his legal background and administrative experience could strengthen INEC’s internal systems, improve compliance with electoral laws, and enhance transparency in election processes.
Analysts also say the choice of Amupitan, described by President Tinubu as “apolitical and a man of integrity”, may reflect the administration’s intention to restore public confidence in the commission’s neutrality.
Notably, he is the first Kogi indigene ever nominated for the INEC chairmanship.
What Comes Next
The Senate confirmation hearing will be the next step, where lawmakers are expected to question Amupitan on issues such as digital election management, voter data protection, and institutional autonomy.
If confirmed, he will become the eighth substantive INEC Chairman since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, overseeing both off-cycle elections in 2026 and the 2027 general elections