10 things to know about Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, new INEC chairman

10 Things to Know About Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN)

1. New INEC Chairman: Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has been unanimously approved by the National Council of State as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the tenure completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

2. First from Kogi State: He is the first person from Kogi State and the North-Central region to be nominated for the position of INEC Chairman, marking a historic appointment.

3. Distinguished Legal Scholar: Amupitan is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he has taught, researched, and mentored students for over three decades.

4. Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN): He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014, recognizing his excellence and contributions to the legal profession.

5. Academic Leadership: At UNIJOS, he has held several key leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of the Department of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014).

6. Current Positions: He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

7. Educational Background: Born on April 25, 1967, Amupitan obtained his LLB from the University of Jos in 1987, was called to the Bar in 1988, earned an LLM in 1993, and a PhD in 2007 — all from the same university.

8. Author and Researcher: He has written several influential law books, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), and Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), among others.

9. Board and Council Memberships: Outside academia, he has served on the Council of Legal Education, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and corporate boards such as Integrated Dairies Limited, Vom, and Riss Oil Limited, Abuja.

10. Family and Values: A respected family man known for his humility and integrity, Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children, and is widely regarded as an apolitical figure committed to fairness and national service.