President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has designated Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment, as contained in a statement posted on X by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council during its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. The appointment follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu's 10-year tenure in October 2025.
Tinubu told the council that Amupitan, a 58-year-old professor of law from Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central states to be nominated for the position.
Amupitan, born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, where he also serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).
A senior advocate of Nigeria since 2014, Amupitan specializes in company law, law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.
He obtained his LL.B from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the bar in 1988. He earned an LL.M. from the same university in 1993 and a PhD in 2007.
If confirmed, Mr. Amupitan will be the 13th substantive chairperson of the electoral body since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
