As the tenure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), draws to a close in November, speculations are mounting over his possible successor. Reports suggest that Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, may be in line for the top electoral role.
Prof. Amupitan, a distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has spent over three decades in academia and public service. He began his career at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose to the rank of Professor in 2008. His elevation to SAN in 2014 further solidified his reputation as a respected legal luminary.
Specializing in Evidence Law, Corporate Governance, and Electoral Law reforms, Prof. Amupitan has held numerous leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and membership on the Governing Councils of both the University of Jos and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
A prolific researcher with over 50 academic publications, he has supervised dozens of postgraduate students. Hailing from Ijumu, Kogi State, Prof. Amupitan’s wealth of experience has positioned him as a strong contender for Nigeria’s top electoral office.