True to Our Earlier Report, Council of State Approves Professor Amupitan as New INEC Chairman
True to Headlineswave.ng’s earlier exclusive report, the National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The nomination, presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025.
According to a State House press release, President Tinubu told the Council that Professor Amupitan is the first nominee from Kogi State, a North-Central state, to head the electoral body, describing him as apolitical and a man of integrity.
Council members reportedly gave unanimous backing to the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State commending the choice and describing Professor Amupitan as “a man of character, intellect, and proven competence.”
In line with constitutional procedure, the President will now transmit Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), and also holds the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
A renowned legal scholar, Professor Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He obtained his LLB from the University of Jos in 1987, was called to the bar in 1988, and later earned his LLM (1993) and PhD (2007) from the same university. He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Within the University of Jos, Amupitan has served as Dean, Faculty of Law (2008–2014); Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014); and Head, Department of Public Law (2006–2008).
Outside academia, he has sat on the boards of several institutions, including Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, and Riss Oil Limited, Abuja. He has also served as a member of the Council of Legal Education and the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
A prolific author, his works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children.
Background
Headlineswave.ng had exclusively reported earlier that Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan was being considered as President Tinubu’s preferred choice for the INEC Chairmanship, following weeks of consultations and high-level deliberations. Today’s official confirmation by the National Council of State validates that early report, underscoring Headlineswave.ng’s reputation for accurate, ahead-of-the-curve political reporting.
