By Keke.
When Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) raised his right hand on October 23, 2025, to take the oath of office as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was more than a swearing-in ceremony it was the dawn of a new chapter in Nigeria’s democratic story.
His appointment, approved by the National Council of State on October 9 and endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marked a historic moment: for the first time, the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral umpire would come from the North-Central zone. For many, it was a fitting recognition of both merit and regional inclusion.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Amupitan’s journey from the quiet hills of Kogi to the nation’s electoral headquarters in Abuja is a testament to discipline, intellect, and service.
After obtaining his National Diploma from Kwara State Polytechnic between 1982 and 1984, he proceeded to the University of Jos, where he bagged his LL.B in 1987. A year later, he was called to the Nigerian Bar, marking the beginning of a career defined by excellence and ethics.
Unrelenting in his quest for knowledge, he returned to the University of Jos to earn a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M) in 1993 and later a Ph.D. in Law in 2007. His academic journey, which began as an assistant lecturer in 1989, evolved into an illustrious career that saw him serve as Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008), Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).
His intellectual prowess and contribution to legal scholarship earned him the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 a distinction reserved for the nation’s finest legal minds.
Though academia was his first calling, Amupitan’s influence reached far beyond lecture halls. At the University of Jos, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), demonstrating administrative depth and leadership versatility.
He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State. His professional engagements extend to several national and corporate boards, including the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Council of Legal Education, and the Board of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, Plateau State.
An accomplished author, Amupitan’s publications such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013) remain vital texts in Nigerian legal education and practice.
Professor Amupitan steps into INEC’s top office at a defining moment in Nigeria’s democracy. His predecessor, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, left behind a mixed legacy—praised for introducing technology-driven reforms but criticized for controversies surrounding electoral transparency.
For Amupitan, expectations are sky-high. President Tinubu, in presenting him to the Council of State, described him as “apolitical” and of “unimpeachable character.” Many Nigerians see his appointment as a refreshing departure from partisan politics—a vote for integrity and expertise.
Leaders and stakeholders from the North-Central zone have equally hailed his emergence as recognition of the region’s human capital and a boost for inclusiveness in national leadership.
The new INEC Chairman faces an uphill task. The credibility of Nigeria’s elections, the efficiency of technology-driven processes, and the public’s trust in the commission are all on the line.
Deepening technological reforms: Sustaining and improving systems such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result-viewing portals to enhance transparency.
Restoring credibility: Winning back public confidence through impartial administration and transparent communication.
Institutional management: Steering INEC’s vast bureaucracy and ensuring efficiency across 36 states and the FCT.
Balancing expectations: As the first chairman from Kogi and the North-Central zone, his performance will be closely watched to ensure neutrality and fairness.
His scholarly background in governance and corporate ethics could prove invaluable as he navigates these institutional and moral challenges.
Those who know Professor Amupitan describe him as a calm, principled, and deeply reflective man. His colleagues at the University of Jos recall his humility and discipline; his students remember his insistence on truth and diligence.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State aptly captured his essence when he called him “a towering intellectual, a patriotic Nigerian, and a detribalised leader.”
A family man, Amupitan is married and blessed with four children. Away from legal debates and administrative duties, he is known to enjoy quiet moments of study and mentoring young scholars.
Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan’s story is more than a personal triumph it’s a reflection of what Nigeria’s democracy can aspire to: leadership built on intellect, integrity, and service.
His rise from Ayetoro Gbede to the pinnacle of electoral administration underscores the power of education and moral conviction. It also signals a subtle shift an acknowledgment that the credibility of Nigeria’s elections may depend not just on systems, but on the strength of character of those who oversee them.
Whether Professor Amupitan succeeds will depend on his ability to blend scholarship with statesmanship—to transform theory into practice, and principles into policy. If he can do that, his tenure could very well redefine the credibility of Nigeria’s elections and, perhaps, the confidence of its people in democracy itself.
In summary, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) brings with him decades of legal scholarship, administrative experience, and moral fortitude. Now, as he assumes one of Nigeria’s most delicate and powerful offices, the nation watches and waits to see whether this quiet academic can deliver the loud change its democracy so desperately needs.
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