The new INEC Chairman is Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and law professor at the University of Jos, sworn in on 9 October 2025. He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ran from 2015 to 2025, becoming the 6th Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission.
Who Is the New INEC Chairman?
The new INEC Chairman is Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, a 58-year-old legal scholar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated him on 9 October 2025 to replace outgoing Chairman Mahmood Yakubu.
His nomination was unanimously approved by the National Council of State the same day it was presented, before proceeding to Senate screening and confirmation.
What Is Joash Amupitan’s Background?
Joash Ojo Amupitan was born on 25 April 1967 in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is the first person from Kogi State to be nominated for the position of INEC Chairman.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Joash Ojo Amupitan |
| Date of birth | 25 April 1967 |
| Age (2025) | 58 |
| State of origin | Kogi State |
| Hometown | Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu LGA |
| Title | Professor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) |
| Predecessor | Professor Mahmood Yakubu |
| Appointment date | 9 October 2025 |
| Previous role | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos |
He comes from a family with deep roots in education and Christian service. His late mother, Alice Ajigba Amupitan, was an educator and church leader in Kogi State.
What Is Joash Amupitan’s Educational Background?
Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, before proceeding to the University of Jos, where he earned all 3 of his law degrees. His academic path from undergraduate study to doctorate was completed entirely at the same institution.
| Degree | Year Awarded | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) | 1987 | University of Jos |
| Call to the Nigerian Bar | 1988 | Nigerian Law School, Lagos |
| Master of Laws (LL.M) | 1993 | University of Jos |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Law (Ph.D) | 2007 | University of Jos |
He was also a Fulbright visiting scholar in 2004, an accolade that reflects his standing within international academic legal circles prior to his elevation to Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
What Was Amupitan’s Academic Career Before INEC?
Amupitan began his academic career at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation from 1988 to 1989. Over more than 3 decades, he rose steadily through the academic ranks at the same institution.
His progression through the University of Jos followed this sequence:
- Assistant Lecturer (1989): Joined the Faculty of Law immediately after his youth service year.
- Reader (2003): Advanced to Reader after over a decade of teaching and research.
- Professor of Law (2008): Attained the rank of full professor, specialising in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration (2022): Reached one of the university’s most senior administrative positions.
He also held several key leadership roles at the University of Jos throughout his career, including Head of the Department of Public Law (2006 to 2008), Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008 to 2014), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012 to 2014).
What Are Amupitan’s Legal Qualifications and Achievements?
Amupitan was conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014, one of the highest honours available to legal practitioners in the country. His scholarship spans more than 50 academic works, including journal articles, book chapters, monographs, and case reviews.
He has supervised over 30 Master of Law candidates and more than a dozen doctoral students throughout his academic career, reflecting a substantial contribution to legal education in Nigeria beyond his own published scholarship.
4 notable books authored by Amupitan include:
- Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008)
- Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008)
- Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013)
- Principles of Company Law (2013)
He has also authored An Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014), extending his published work across multiple core areas of Nigerian legal practice.
What Other Leadership Roles Has Amupitan Held?
Beyond the University of Jos, Amupitan serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State, a role he was inaugurated into in December 2023.
He has also sat on the boards of several other institutions, including:
- Member, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council
- Board Member, Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom
- Member, Council of Legal Education (2008 to 2014)
- Former Board Member, Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996 to 2004)
How Was Amupitan Appointed INEC Chairman?
President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to the National Council of State on 9 October 2025, following the end of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, which ran from 2015 to 2025. The Council unanimously approved his nomination on the same day it was presented.
The appointment process followed Nigeria’s constitutional procedure for the role:
- Presidential nomination: President Tinubu formally presented Amupitan’s name to the National Council of State on 9 October 2025.
- Council of State approval: Council members, including Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, unanimously supported the nomination.
- Senate screening: The Senate conducted a formal screening session, during which Amupitan responded to questions on Nigeria’s electoral systems.
- Senate confirmation: The Senate confirmed his appointment via voice vote, conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after clearance from the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Nigeria Police Force.
- Assumption of office: Amupitan assumed office immediately following his confirmation.
President Tinubu specifically noted that the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election would serve as an early test of the new leadership at INEC.
Why Was the Previous INEC Chairman Replaced?
Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman ended in October 2025 after nearly a decade in the role, having been appointed in 2015 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He had almost completed his second and final permitted term when the transition occurred.
Reports indicated that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma raised concerns with President Tinubu about Yakubu’s continued tenure, warning it could affect political stability ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Following these discussions, President Tinubu directed Yakubu to cease official INEC duties and proceed on terminal leave, paving the way for Amupitan’s nomination.
Who Is Amupitan Married To?
Professor Amupitan is married to Dr. (Mrs) Yemisi Amupitan, and the couple has 4 children. His personal background reflects the same emphasis on education present throughout his own family history, given his late mother’s career as an educator and church leader.
What Are Amupitan’s Priorities as INEC Chairman?
Amupitan has outlined plans to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen institutional independence, and rebuild public trust in the commission. In his inaugural address, he expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and acknowledged the significant responsibility of the role.
His stated priorities focus on 3 core areas:
- Electoral reform: A continued focus on reform of electoral laws in Nigeria, an area closely tied to his academic research background.
- Institutional unity: He has tasked INEC staff to “break down silos” across the commission’s 23 departments, aiming for greater internal cohesion.
- National electoral confidence: Strengthening public trust ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following the immediate test presented by the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
President Tinubu, addressing Amupitan directly at his swearing-in, stated that no electoral system is flawless and emphasised the importance of continuously improving Nigeria’s electoral processes to protect public trust.