There are indications that President Bola Tinubu is set to announce Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to reports, barring any last-minute changes, Prof. Amupitan is expected to replace Prof. Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his 10-year tenure, which spans two terms.
Mahmood was appointed to office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015 and his tenure is set to expire in November 2025.
According to Sahara Reporters, President Tinubu is set to announce Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman.
Reports have it that the appointment of Amupitan is set to be formalized when President Tinubu hosts the Council of State meeting on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.
Profile of Professor Amupitan
Naija News reports that Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.
Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.
Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.
He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.
According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.
Amupitan is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.
