President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the conclusion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s decade-long tenure.
The appointment was confirmed after the National Council of State met on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where members unanimously endorsed the nomination presented by the President.
Professor Amupitan, aged 58, is a respected academic and legal practitioner with over three decades of experience in teaching, research, and public service.
He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and is widely recognised for his expertise in corporate governance, evidence law, and public-sector reforms.
A native of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan becomes the first person from the North-Central state to head Nigeria’s election management body since the commission’s creation.
His professional career spans several leadership roles within academia and public institutions. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law and later chaired multiple committees at the University of Jos, where he has taught since the late 1980s.
He was elevated to the rank of Professor of Law in 2008 after years of scholarly and administrative distinction.
Beyond the university system, Amupitan has contributed to national policy through his service on statutory and corporate boards, including the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a title conferred in 2014 for excellence in legal practice and academic contribution.
Known for his scholarly works on corporate and regulatory frameworks, he has published extensively on governance, legal reforms, and economic law.
His academic writings have informed discussions on accountability, corporate responsibility, and institutional transparency in Nigeria’s evolving legal landscape.
Professor Amupitan’s appointment signals the beginning of a new leadership phase for INEC as the country prepares for future electoral cycles.
His background in governance and legal reform is expected to shape policy direction within the commission, particularly in strengthening internal accountability, promoting voter confidence, and consolidating democratic processes.
The newly appointed INEC Chairman will assume office after completing statutory clearance procedures, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served two consecutive terms.
