The National Council of State has officially approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The decision was reached during a meeting of the Council held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Council gave its full support to Amupitan’s nomination.
President Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council as his choice to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman officially ended in October 2025.
Amupitan, aged 58, is a respected Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Kogi State. He becomes the first person from the North-Central state to be nominated for the position of INEC Chairman.
The newly approved chairman-designate is widely recognized for his long-standing ties with notable political figures, including Senator Dino Melaye. His nomination is seen by political observers as a significant shift in the regional representation within Nigeria’s electoral leadership structure.
Further details regarding the Council’s deliberations and Amupitan’s expected assumption of office are expected to be made public in the coming days.