Tinubu Appoints Prof. Amupitan as New INEC Chairman

Abuja, October 9, 2025 — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a historic first for Kogi State.

The National Council of State unanimously endorsed the nomination during its meeting on Thursday, paving the way for Senate screening of the 58-year-old legal scholar.

Professor Amupitan, who hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, becomes the first indigene of the state to be nominated for the critical position since Nigeria’s independence.

Presenting the nominee to the Council of State, President Tinubu emphasized Professor Amupitan’s apolitical credentials and regional representation, noting that no Kogi State indigene had previously occupied the position.

The nomination received strong backing from council members, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State describing Professor Amupitan as “a man of integrity.”

In compliance with constitutional requirements, the president will now forward the nomination to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Professor Amupitan currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, where he has spent over three decades as an academic. He is also an alumnus of the institution, having obtained his LLB, LLM, and PhD from the university.

Born on April 25, 1967, the nominee was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his National Youth Service at Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. He earned the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.

His areas of legal specialization include Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law—expertise that stakeholders believe will strengthen INEC’s institutional management.

Professor Amupitan has held several leadership positions at the University of Jos, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014), Head of Public Law (2006-2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014).

Beyond academia, he serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. He has also served on the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, among other bodies.

An accomplished legal scholar, Professor Amupitan has authored several authoritative texts on Nigerian law, 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)
• An Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014)

Professor Amupitan will replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC chairman from 2015 to October 2025, completing two five-year tenures. Professor Yakubu, who was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, officially stepped down on Tuesday.

May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner by appointment, is currently serving as acting chairman pending the confirmation of the new appointee.

If confirmed, Professor Amupitan will become the 13th substantive chairman of INEC since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. He will be the fourth consecutive academic to lead the electoral body, following Professors Maurice Iwu, Attahiru Jega, and Mahmood Yakubu.

The commission has been headed by notable figures including Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976–1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993), Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), and Abel Guobadia (2000–2005).

Upon confirmation and inauguration, Professor Amupitan will immediately face significant electoral responsibilities. His first major task will be overseeing the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, followed by the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections in February 2026.

The new INEC chairman will also be expected to address ongoing calls for electoral reforms, particularly concerning the deployment of election technology, voter registration processes, and result transmission systems.

Civil society organizations and political stakeholders have expressed cautious optimism about the appointment, noting that Professor Amupitan’s background in corporate governance and evidence law could bring analytical rigor and institutional discipline to INEC’s operations.

The appointment has been celebrated in Kogi State, where residents see it as historic recognition for the state at the national level. Community leaders in Ayetoro Gbede, Professor Amupitan’s hometown, have begun organizing prayer sessions for his successful Senate confirmation.

Political analysts note that the nomination demonstrates attention to federal character principles while potentially enhancing Kogi State’s political profile in national affairs.

Professor Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982-1984) before proceeding to the University of Jos for his law degree (1984-1987). After his Master’s degree in 1993, he pursued his doctoral studies while building his academic career, earning his PhD in 2007.

The nominee has served on various corporate boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom and previously as a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).

Professor Amupitan is married with four children.

The appointment has generated varied reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. Legal practitioners have generally welcomed the nomination of another SAN to lead INEC, viewing it as recognition of the legal complexity of electoral administration.

Election monitoring groups have called for a swift Senate confirmation to ensure adequate preparation time before the Anambra governorship election.

Political parties across the spectrum have expressed willingness to work with the new INEC leadership while emphasizing the need for transparency and independence in electoral management.

The Senate will now schedule a screening session for Professor Amupitan, where he is expected to present his vision for INEC and respond to questions from lawmakers about electoral reforms, technology deployment, and operational efficiency.

Senate confirmation typically requires a simple majority vote. If confirmed, President Tinubu will inaugurate Professor Amupitan as INEC chairman, officially beginning his five-year tenure with the possibility of reappointment for another term.

The appointment reinforces the pattern of selecting academics with distinguished careers to lead Nigeria’s electoral umpire, a trend that began with Professor Maurice Iwu in 2005.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with questions about electoral credibility and public confidence in democratic institutions, all eyes will be on Professor Amupitan to demonstrate how his expertise in corporate governance and legal scholarship can translate into improved electoral management.

This report is based on an official statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dated October 9, 2025.