By Peter Dansu President Bola Tinubu has explained that his decision to appoint Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of ...
By Peter Dansu
President Bola Tinubu has explained that his decision to appoint Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was driven by the professor’s integrity, neutrality, and remarkable record of service.
Speaking during the National Council of State meeting held on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, President Tinubu said Amupitan’s appointment was based on merit and a proven reputation for fairness.
According to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President noted that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State in North-Central Nigeria to be nominated for the nation’s top electoral position.
The Council of State, which includes serving and former leaders, unanimously endorsed the nomination, praising Amupitan’s integrity and commitment to justice.
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, described the nominee as “a scholar whose life and career reflect deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”
Following the Council’s approval, President Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, as required by the Constitution.
Profile of the New INEC Chairman
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He also chairs the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
Amupitan earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law from the University of Jos, after starting his academic journey at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
With more than three decades of experience in legal scholarship and administration, Professor Amupitan is widely respected for his expertise in company law, corporate governance, and evidence law. His notable publications include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Beyond the university system, he has served on the boards of several institutions, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, Plateau State. Between 1996 and 2004, he was also on the board of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.
Described by colleagues as “a jurist of quiet influence and firm principles,” Professor Amupitan is married with four children.
Once confirmed by the Senate, he will become Nigeria’s 15th Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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