Yemi Obafemi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed hopes that the newly nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), will restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a statement titled “ADC’s Preliminary Reaction to the Nomination of Professor Amupitan as New INEC Chairman” and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it expects the new INEC boss to demonstrate integrity and independence in the discharge of his duties.
“But we expect the new INEC Chairman to have a personal ambition to do better and restore the confidence of Nigerians and the world in Nigerian election,” the statement read.
The party stressed that Professor Amupitan’s loyalty should lie with the Nigerian people rather than the government that appointed him.
“We are willing to give him the benefit of doubts based on his track record. But now he has the opportunity to make a good name for himself that his children would be proud of, or to soil his record and end up with ignominy,” the statement added.
The ADC further noted that the INEC Chairman’s tenure will extend beyond one electoral cycle and urged him to focus on the long-term interest of the country rather than short-term political pressures.
On Thursday, The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central region as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presentation of Amupitan as his nominee to fill the vacant position left by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended in October 2025 after serving since 2015.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu informed the council that Professor Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State in the North-Central zone to be nominated for the position and described him as apolitical.
According to the statement, council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.
In line with constitutional provisions, the President will forward the nominee’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Professor Amupitan, 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, where he also earned his degrees. His areas of specialisation include Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
