President Tinubu swears in Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman, marking a new chapter in Nigeria’s electoral leadership

Joash Amupitan INEC Chairman has officially assumed office as President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, swore him in as the new head of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Also read: Joash Amupitan named INEC chairman amid reform debate

The ceremony took place at noon inside the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The event was attended by members of the Federal Executive Council, National Assembly leaders, top legal professionals, civil society figures, and senior INEC officials, symbolising the start of a new era in Nigeria’s electoral administration.

According to officials familiar with the President’s itinerary, the ceremony had been carefully planned to reflect the importance of the role Amupitan is taking on following the exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who served from 2015 until October 2025.

Amupitan’s first official engagement followed shortly after his inauguration, as he met with INEC directors at the Commission’s headquarters.

The meeting, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., was confirmed in a notice issued by INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, on behalf of the Director of Voter Education and Publicity.

“In view of the above, members of the INEC Press Corps are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the event,” the notice read.

President Tinubu said Amupitan was chosen for his apolitical stance, integrity, and distinguished record of public service, describing him as a capable hand to steer the Commission ahead of future elections.

“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State to occupy the position and is apolitical,” his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted in a statement.

The Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment on October 16, following his endorsement by the National Council of State.

His nomination received unanimous support from council members, including Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, who hailed him as a man of integrity.

Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Kogi State, Prof. Amupitan’s academic and professional journey spans more than three decades.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, he joined the institution’s Faculty of Law in 1989 and became a full professor in 2008.

He holds LL.B, LL.M, and Ph.D degrees from the University of Jos, and has held several leadership positions, including Head of Department, Dean of Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), and Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

Amupitan was conferred the prestigious SAN title in 2014 and is widely respected for his expertise in corporate governance, privatisation law, and the law of evidence.

His publications, exceeding 50 in number, have shaped legal scholarship and inspired generations of Nigerian lawyers.

Beyond academia, he has served on the boards of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, Integrated Dairies Limited, and Riss Oil Limited.

His notable books include 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 Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).

Also read: National Council of State Approves Amupitan as INEC Chairman, Senate Screening Next

As Prof. Joash Amupitan takes charge of INEC, expectations are high for reforms that will strengthen Nigeria’s electoral credibility and deepen public trust in the nation’s democratic process.