Tinubu Briefs Council of State on Choice of Amupitan for INEC Chairman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, presented Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) before the National Council of State as his nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The meeting, which held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by former Presidents, former Heads of State, and key national leaders, who constitute the Council of State.
Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had earlier been reported by Daily Trust as the President’s preferred candidate to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC Chairman ended recently.
A top presidential source had earlier confirmed that Amupitan emerged at the top of the list of potential nominees after several weeks of consultations and internal assessments within the presidency.
During the Thursday session, President Tinubu formally informed the Council of his choice, highlighting Amupitan’s academic excellence, professional integrity, and record of impartiality.
In a statement issued after the meeting by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Amupitan as a distinguished scholar and legal luminary with decades of experience in law and governance.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position of INEC Chairman, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Onanuga said.
According to him, the President emphasized that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State in Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone to be nominated for the position. Tinubu reportedly told the Council that the choice of the Kogi-born law professor reflected his administration’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness in national appointments.
President Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan is a man of proven character and is apolitical. He expressed confidence that under his leadership, INEC would continue to uphold transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process, the statement added.
The Council of State, after deliberations, was said to have unanimously endorsed the nomination. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who was present at the meeting, described the nominee as a man of high moral standards and integrity.
“Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ododo commending the President for recognizing merit and competence in his choice,” Onanuga noted.
In line with constitutional requirements, the next step will be for the President to formally transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation. The screening and confirmation process by the National Assembly is expected to follow in the coming days.
Amupitan, aged 58, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he has taught for several years. He is also an alumnus of the same institution.
Over the years, Amupitan has contributed extensively to legal scholarship and national discourse on constitutional and electoral reforms. He is widely regarded among his peers as a legal mind with a strong sense of fairness and adherence to democratic principles.
His nomination comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s electoral body, as the commission prepares for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and future national polls. Observers say the choice of Amupitan could mark a shift towards strengthening the credibility and independence of INEC, especially in light of recent debates about the need for reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Before his nomination, Professor Amupitan had served in various academic and legal advisory capacities, including roles in university administration and national committees on law reform. His reputation as a disciplined academic and non-partisan professional is believed to have influenced the President’s decision.
Political analysts note that Tinubu’s nomination of a scholar rather than a career politician may help rebuild public confidence in the electoral institution, which has often faced scrutiny over its neutrality and performance during elections.
The Council of State, an advisory body established under the 1999 Constitution, includes all former Presidents, former Chief Justices, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all sitting governors. The Council provides counsel to the President on key national issues, including appointments to sensitive positions such as that of the INEC Chairman.
With the Council’s endorsement, all eyes are now on the National Assembly as it prepares to consider Amupitan’s nomination. If confirmed, he will officially succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu and become Nigeria’s new electoral umpire — the first from Kogi State to occupy the position since the creation of the commission.