The National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, from Kogi State, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan as his nominee to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who led the electoral body from 2015 until his exit in October 2025. The President described Amupitan as a highly respected legal scholar and the first individual from Kogi State, in Nigeria’s North-Central region, to be nominated for the position. He also emphasized his non-partisan stance.
The Council gave its full endorsement to the nomination. Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commended Amupitan as a man of integrity, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the Commission effectively. 
In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now transmit the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.
Professor 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, where he also obtained his law degree. His areas of expertise include Company Law, Evidence Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
