President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This decision follows the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the position.
Amupitan, born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, has an impressive educational background. He attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984 and obtained an LLB from the University of Jos in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, later earning an LLM in 1993 and a PhD in 2007 from the same university.
His academic career began in 1989 at the University of Jos, where he progressed from Assistant Lecturer to becoming a Professor of Law in 2008. He specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law, and was designated a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014. Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Throughout his career, Amupitan has held various significant administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors at the University of Jos. He has also served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and the Council of Legal Education.
An accomplished author, Amupitan has published over 50 academic works, including “Corporate Governance: Models and Principles,” “Documentary Evidence in Nigeria,” “Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria,” “Principles of Company Law,” and “An Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria.”
Amupitan is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and they have four children. Following the approval by President Tinubu, Amupitan’s name will now be forwarded to the Senate for screening.
