BARELY 24 hours after News Point Nigeria exclusively reported that three eminent Nigerians were being considered for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Council of State has formally approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new electoral umpire’s helmsman.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the nomination of Professor Amupitan, a respected academic and legal luminary from Kogi State in Nigeria’s North-Central region, during the Council’s meeting held on Thursday at the State House, Abuja.
The appointment follows the expiration of the two-term tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who had served as INEC Chairman from November 2015 to October 2025, a period marked by two general elections and major reforms in Nigeria’s democratic system.
President Tinubu, while addressing the Council, praised Yakubu for his decade of service and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through credible elections and institutional innovation.
“Professor Yakubu has played a significant role in sustaining our democracy. Today, we look ahead with renewed hope as we entrust this sacred national duty to another scholar of integrity and distinction,” Tinubu reportedly said.
The National Council of State, comprising former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, all 36 state governors, and former Chief Justices of Nigeria, unanimously endorsed the President’s nominee after deliberations. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State described the new appointee as “a man of rare integrity, intellect, and humility.”
With this approval, President Tinubu is expected to forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for formal screening and confirmation, as stipulated in Sections 153 and 154 of the 1999 Constitution.
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and currently serves as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A distinguished scholar, Amupitan holds degrees in Law from the University of Jos, where he also earned his LLM (1993) and PhD (2007). He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014. Over the years, he has built a remarkable career spanning corporate law, evidence law, and governance.
His notable publications include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Beyond academia, Amupitan has served as a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education, and as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, and Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu lauded Amupitan’s track record, describing him as “a tested scholar with deep understanding of law, ethics, and institutional management.”
“Professor Amupitan’s nomination reflects this administration’s commitment to competence, character, and continuity in our electoral reform journey,” Onanuga said.
Earlier on Wednesday, News Point Nigeria had exclusively reported that President Tinubu had shortlisted three eminent Nigerians for the position, Professor Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman (rtd) of Nasarawa State, and Professor Lai Olurode, a sociologist and former INEC National Commissioner from Lagos State and we take the names to the Council Of State meeting for a pick.
The report, which detailed deliberations ahead of the Council of State meeting, revealed that Amupitan was the frontrunner due to his “strong apolitical stance and deep academic grounding in governance and legal reform.”
Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, said: “The President has made a thoughtful choice. Amupitan’s credentials speak for themselves, and his neutrality is reassuring.”
Similarly, Wale Balogun, SAN, called for “institutional independence and transparency” as Amupitan takes over the reins of INEC, urging the Senate to ensure a “rigorous and non-partisan confirmation process.”
See below link of News Point Nigeria‘s story on Amupitan’s nominatiion yesterday:
Three Names Emerge As Tinubu, Council Of State Set To Decide Next INEC Chairman