President Bola Tinubu has defended his nomination of Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of State held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu stated that the choice was guided by Amupitan’s integrity, non-partisan stance and long-standing record of public service.
He insisted that the nominee, a respected law scholar from Kogi State, is the first North-Central candidate to be put forward for the role.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the nominee as "apolitical and deeply committed to fairness," stressing the importance of having a credible figure to lead Nigeria’s electoral body.
The Council of State which includes serving and former Presidents, Vice Presidents, state governors and other senior statesmen, unanimously endorsed the nomination, paving the way for the next stage of legislative screening.
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, praised the selection, describing Prof Amupitan as "a man whose career reflects justice, knowledge and national service."
Who is Professor Amupitan?
Aged 58, Joash Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. He is currently a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos. He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
He holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Law from the University of Jos, after earlier studies at Kwara State Polytechnic. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Amupitan is widely published in company law, corporate governance and evidence law. Some of his well-known works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria.
Beyond academia, he has served on several boards, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Integrated Dairies Limited, and the Council of Legal Education.
Married with four children, he is often described by colleagues as "a jurist of quiet influence."
What Comes Next
Following the Council’s approval, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in line with constitutional requirements.
If confirmed, he will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose ten-year tenure ended earlier this week.
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