Meet the New INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan: All You Need to Know

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a seasoned law scholar from Kogi State, as the new INEC Chairman.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu after nearly a decade in office.

The nomination, confirmed by the National Council of State on Thursday, makes Amupitan the first Kogi State indigene to head Nigeria’s election management body. Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, described him as a man of integrity and a non-partisan professional.

Academic and Legal Career

Prof. Amupitan is a seasoned academic and lawyer with over 30 years of experience. He began his teaching career at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008. He currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and was until recently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

All his degrees—Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD in Law—were obtained from the University of Jos. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his training at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

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His expertise spans Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Privatisation Law, and Electoral Law Reform. In 2014, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Leadership and National Roles

Amupitan has held several leadership positions at UNIJOS, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors. Nationally, he has served on the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

He has authored and co-authored over 50 academic publications, supervised multiple postgraduate students, and contributed significantly to corporate governance and electoral law research in Nigeria.

Beyond Academia

Outside the classroom, Prof. Amupitan has served on various corporate boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited and Riss Oil Limited. He is also a member of professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

Personal Life

Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and they are blessed with four children.

With Senate confirmation expected, Prof. Amupitan is set to lead INEC into a new chapter of Nigeria’s democratic journey.