By Deborah Nnamdi
The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure.
The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to the council, which gave its unanimous endorsement. The nomination will now be transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation as required by law.
Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He becomes the first person from the North-Central region to be nominated for the INEC chairmanship.
Born on April 25, 1967, the 58-year-old legal scholar is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and has served in several academic and leadership capacities at the University of Jos, including Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors.
He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State, and sits on the boards of several corporate and legal bodies, including the Council of Legal Education.
The appointment comes two days after May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints, was named Acting Chairman following Yakubu’s exit after nearly a decade of service.
