BREAKING: Council Of State Approves Amupitan As New INEC Chairman, Confirms SaharaReporters’ Exclusive Report

The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On Tuesday, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that, barring any last-minute changes, President Bola Tinubu was set to appoint Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu after his 10-year tenure spanning two terms.

SaharaReporters also exclusively reported that to formalise the appointment, the President had scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for today (Thursday). 

Amupitan is both a kinsman and longtime legal counsel for Senator Dino Melaye.

On September 26, 2025, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Amupitan had emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Yakubu as the INEC National Chairman.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Thursday, announced that the Council of State had approved the nomination of Amupitan.

The statement said President Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to the council to fill the vacancy left by Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025. 

The President described Amupitan as apolitical and the first nominee from Kogi State to occupy the position.

Council members gave their full support to the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo praising Amupitan as “a man of integrity.” 

Following the approval, the President will now forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening, in line with constitutional requirements.

Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, specializing in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.

Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982–1984) and the University of Jos (1984–1987). He was called to the bar in 1988 and later earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in 1993 and a PhD in 2007. His academic career began in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.

He currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State. Among his previous roles at UNIJOS are Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

Outside academia, Amupitan has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, Riss Oil Limited in Abuja, and the Council of Legal Education. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council.

A prolific author, Amupitan has published numerous books, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), Principles of Company Law (2013), and Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).

He is married and has four children.