October 23, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, a week after the Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment on October 16, following an extensive screening exercise.
Addressing the gathering, President Tinubu charged the new INEC boss to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of the commission.
“The credibility of our elections rests on the commission’s ability to remain impartial and uphold the highest standards of integrity. I urge you to defend that mandate,” the President said.
Clad in a white agbada and gold cap, Amupitan arrived at the State House in the morning, exchanging pleasantries with guests before the ceremony. He was accompanied by senior government officials and presidential aides.
Amupitan, 58, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was nominated by President Tinubu and endorsed by the National Council of State. His appointment follows the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, which ran from 2015 to October 2025.
During his Senate screening, the new INEC Chairman outlined his vision for restoring credibility to Nigeria’s electoral system. He promised to prioritise reforms that would strengthen the Electoral Act, streamline election timelines, and rebuild public confidence in the commission.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won fairly and well.’ When that happens, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored,” Amupitan told lawmakers.
Responding to speculations about his alleged links to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, the Senior Advocate dismissed the claims, stating unequivocally: “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”
Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1982–1984), before earning his LL.B. from the University of Jos in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and completed his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation.
He obtained an LL.M. from the University of Jos in 1993 and later a Ph.D. in 2007. His academic career at UNIJOS began in 1989, where he currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
Amupitan previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014), and Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008).
Beyond academia, he has held several board and advisory positions, including with Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education. He also served on the board of Riss Oil Limited between 1996 and 2004.
The new INEC Chairman is a prolific author with several published works, including 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 blessed with four children.
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