The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The appointment follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025. The announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, which became open after Yakubu’s tenure ended.
Professor Amupitan, currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an accomplished academic with over three decades of experience in law and public service. His nomination is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of future elections.
The Council’s approval marks a significant transition in the leadership of the electoral body, signaling the beginning of a new era for the commission under Professor Amupitan’s stewardship.
