President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly finalising plans to appoint Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the end of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s ten-year tenure. Reliable sources revealed that the official announcement is expected after a crucial meeting of the Council of State scheduled for Thursday, which has been convened by the President to formalise the appointment.
Professor Amupitan, a distinguished legal scholar and seasoned administrator, is well known as the longtime lawyer and close associate of Senator Dino Melaye. His name first surfaced as a frontrunner for the INEC top position in September when reports indicated that President Tinubu had asked Professor Yakubu to proceed on terminal leave ahead of his tenure’s conclusion. Sources close to the Presidency described this move as a fallout from Yakubu’s alleged actions perceived as disloyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the reports, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State had briefed President Tinubu upon his return from a 12-day working vacation, accusing the outgoing INEC boss of attempting to register new political parties in a move seen as undermining the President’s preparations for a second term. The governor also reportedly alleged that Yakubu was covertly backing a particular candidate in the Imo governorship election, prompting Tinubu’s directive that he step aside to allow for a smooth leadership transition at the Commission.
Professor Amupitan’s nomination reflects Tinubu’s intention to install a trusted legal mind at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body as preparations for upcoming elections intensify. Born in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan boasts more than 34 years of academic and professional experience. His impressive career began in 1989 at the University of Jos, where he rose from Assistant Lecturer to full Professor of Law by 2008. Over the years, he has held numerous leadership roles — including Head of the Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.
Beyond academia, Amupitan has contributed significantly to national legal institutions, serving on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Currently, he is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, a position he assumed in December 2023.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) since 2014, Amupitan obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Jos in 1987, followed by a Master’s in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007 from the same institution. His professional focus spans Evidence Law, Corporate Law, Privatisation Law, and Corporate Governance. He has also made significant scholarly contributions to electoral reform, corporate restructuring, and governance law.
As Tinubu prepares to formalise his appointment, political observers note that the decision marks a critical step in shaping Nigeria’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. If confirmed, Professor Amupitan will be tasked with consolidating INEC’s digital reforms, strengthening electoral transparency, and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.