Strong signals from Abuja suggest that Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a celebrated legal scholar from Kogi State, is in line to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Presidency sources indicate that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked Prof. Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the official expiration of his tenure in December 2025. This move appears to clear the path for new leadership at the nation’s top electoral institution.
Prof. Amupitan, a proud son of Okunland in Ijumu Local Government Area, brings to the table more than three decades of academic and professional distinction. Since joining the University of Jos in 1989, he has built a formidable career in teaching, research, and administration, attaining the rank of Professor in 2008. His expertise spans evidence law, corporate governance, and corporate law, fields where he is widely regarded as an authority.
Beyond academia, he has also contributed to Nigeria’s higher education system, serving since 2023 as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU). His elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) further underscores his reputation in legal circles.
Although official confirmation is still pending, Prof. Amupitan’s emergence is already stirring discussions within political and academic communities, where many view him as a strong contender to shape the future of Nigeria’s democratic process through the nation’s electoral body.
