President Bola Tinubu has appointed Joash Amupitan as the new chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mr Amupitan is a professor of Law.
His appointment has also been ratified by the National Council of States, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga wrote in a Thursday statement.
“In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening,” Mr Onanuga wrote.
He will be inaugurated by the president if his nomination is confirmed by the upper legislative chamber.
Born on 25 April 1967, Mr Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State.
He is a law professor at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He is also an alumnus of the university.
Mr Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2014.
He replaces Mahmood Yakubu, also a professor, who led INEC from 2015 until Tuesday, when he stepped down as his second tenure of five years drew to an end. He handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner, by appointment.
Mr Yakubu was first appointed in 2015 by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and re-appointed for another five-year tenure in 2020.
If confirmed, Mr Amupitan will be the 13th substantive chairperson of the electoral body since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
The previous chairpersosns are Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976–1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993, June-November), and Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998).
Others are Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), Abel Guobadia (2000–2005),
(1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993, June-November), and Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998).
Others are Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), Attahiru Jega (2010–2015), and Mr Yakubu (2015-2025).
The commission has had two acting chairpersons, both female. They are Amina Zakari (June – November, 2015) and the current May Agbamuche-Mbu, who took over on Tuesday.
The commission was first headed by a British, Ronald Wraith, during the colonial era in 1958.
If confirmed and inaugurated, Mr Amupitan’s first tasks would be the conduct of the Anambra governorship election scheduled for 8 November and FCT Area Council election holding in February 2026.
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