The National Council of State has unanimously approved Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.
He said that President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity,” the statement said.
President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to fill the vacant position following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit after serving from 2015 to October 2025.
Professor Amupitan is a renowned law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.
The 58 years old professor, earned LLM and PhD from the University of Jos, where he currently served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).
He is also, a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, a Board member, Integrated Dairies Limited and Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, authored several notable legal texts, including “Corporate Governance: Models and Principles” and “Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria”
President Tinubu will forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Until then, May Agbamuche-Mbu will continue to serve as the Acting National Chairman of INEC.
