Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His appointment was unanimously approved by the National Council of State on October 9, 2025, after being nominated by President Bola Tinubu.
Bola Onanuga, Special Advicer to the President on Information and Strategy made this known in a statement that reads:
“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical”.
Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law at the University of Jos, is the first person from Kogi State in the North-Central region to hold the position.
Amupitan is a Native of Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu local government, Kogi state. He is 58 years old. He earned his LL.B. in 1987, LL.M. in 1993, and Ph.D. in 2007 from the University of Jos, and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Amupitan has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University. His areas of specialization include Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatization Law.
If confirmed by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee critical elections, including the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the FCT Area Council election in February 2026.
