BREAKING: National Council of State Unanimously Approves Appointment of Professor Amupitan as INEC Chairman
By Ibrahim Yaro D-Tofa – Abuja
The National Council of State has unanimously approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The approval followed a presentation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the Council’s meeting held Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The nomination comes after the completion of tenure by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 to October 2025.
President Tinubu, while addressing the Council, described Professor Amupitan as a distinguished scholar and legal luminary of impeccable integrity. He emphasized that Amupitan is the first person from the North-Central region, specifically from Kogi State, to be nominated for the position since the establishment of the Commission.
According to the President, the nominee’s professional record and apolitical disposition make him a fitting choice to lead Nigeria’s electoral body at a critical period in the nation’s democratic development.
Council members, including former Heads of State, serving governors, and top national leaders, unanimously endorsed the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State lauded the decision, describing Professor Amupitan as “a man of integrity, humility, and deep commitment to fairness and justice.”
In line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, President Tinubu will forward Professor Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation, paving the way for his formal appointment as the new INEC Chairman.
If confirmed, Professor Amupitan will succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu and is expected to continue reforms aimed at strengthening electoral transparency, innovation, and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.