Things To Know About Prof Joash Amupitan As National Council Of State Confirms New INEC Chairman

The National Council of State has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s two-term tenure.

The announcement, made on Thursday, marks a significant transition in Nigeria’s electoral leadership as Amupitan takes over from Yakubu, who officially handed over earlier in the week. The appointment of the Kogi-born legal scholar has drawn attention across the legal and political communities for his distinguished academic and professional pedigree.

Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Joash Amupitan brings over 34 years of experience in academia, law, and public service to his new role. He joined the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Amupitan earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister-at-Law programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He obtained a Master of Laws degree from the same university in 1993 and later earned a Ph.D. in Law in 2007.

In recognition of his professional excellence, he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014. His areas of specialization include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.

Throughout his career, Professor Amupitan has served in several key academic and administrative positions. He was Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the Governing Councils of both the University of Jos and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He also served on the Council of Legal Education.

Amupitan is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the National Association of Law Teachers. His research spans diverse areas such as electoral law reform, privatization, and petroleum law.

He has published more than 50 scholarly works and supervised 13 Ph.D. and over 30 Master’s candidates. As he assumes leadership of INEC, expectations are high that Professor Amupitan will continue efforts to strengthen electoral integrity and institutional reforms ahead of future elections.