President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said his nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was based on the scholar’s integrity, apolitical disposition, and impeccable record of service.
Speaking during the meeting of the National Council of State held at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, Tinubu said Amupitan’s background and reputation align with his administration’s vision of strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical,” the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted him as saying in a statement afterwards.
The President’s nomination received unanimous endorsement from members of the Council of State, including serving and former Nigerian leaders, who described Amupitan as a man of proven honesty and competence.
Tinubu said the law professor’s appointment represents a step toward consolidating integrity and transparency in the conduct of elections across the country.
Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, commended the nomination, saying Amupitan’s track record “reflects a deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”
Following the Council’s approval, the President is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, as required by the Constitution.
Professor Joash Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He becomes the first Kogi-born nominee for the position of INEC Chairman.
A Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, Amupitan currently serves as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos, after earlier studies at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.
Elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014, Amupitan has distinguished himself in legal scholarship and administration over more than three decades.
He has authored several respected legal texts.
Beyond the classroom, he has served on the boards of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom. Between 1996 and 2004, he was also a Board Member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.
Described by colleagues as “a jurist of quiet influences.”
Once confirmed by the Senate, he will become Nigeria’s 15th Chairman of INEC.
