*Amupitan,From Kogi State, Is Ethnic Yoruba, Like Tinubu
*President To Forward His Name To Senate
National Council of State (NCS) today approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement,today.
Amupitan is, like Tinubu, an ethnic Yoruba, but hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
“President Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.
“In compliance with the Constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening,” Onanuga stated.
Checks by People&Politics about his background showed that Amupitan was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos (UNIJOS) and became a SAN in 2014,among other accomplishments.
The site, unijos.edu.ng/amupitan, further displayed more information on him.
It runs thus: “A distinguished Academic who believes in leadership by example, Professor Amupitan joined the services of the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the Academic ranks to attain the position of Reader in 2003 and Professor in 2008. Professor Amupitan was conferred with the revered position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN in 2014 in recognition of his achievements in the Law profession among many other professional accolades.
“The new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Joash Amupitan is a Professor of Law with specialization and experience in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law and Privatization Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Law Degree in 1987 at University of Jos and then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos where, on successful completion of his Barrister at Law programme, was Called to Bar in 1988. He later enrolled for a Master of Law programme in the University of Jos which he successfully completed in 1993. Professor Amupitan acquired his Ph.D in Law also from the University of Jos in 2007.
“Professor Amupitan has held several Academic and Administrative positions including Representative of the Faculty of Law in several Boards in the University; Head of Department, Public Law; Dean, Faculty of Law; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors, Member, Governing Council, University of Jos and Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as well as Council of Legal Education among many others.
“A member of several Professional Bodies and Associations including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and National Association of Law Teachers, Professor Amupitan is a seasoned Legal Luminary equipped with over Thirty-Four (34) years of Academic and Professional experience in addition to other community services he is rendering.
“Professor Amupitan’s research interests are diverse and wide ranging from providing the Legal Framework for the Privatization of Public Enterprises in Nigeria, Reform of Electoral Laws in Nigeria to the Reform of Privatization Law in Nigeria and Petroleum Industries Law Reform in Nigeria among others.
“He has over 50 Journal, Book Chapter, Conference, Monograph, Case Review and Research Report publications and has contributed to the successful execution of a number of national and internationally funded projects. He has successfully graduated Thirteen (13) M.Phil/PhD Candidates and more than 30 Master of Law Students under his supervision.
“Professor Amupitan who hails from Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is happily married to Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Amupitan and they are blessed with Four (4) children.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Professor Amupitan.
