President Bola Tinubu will on Thursday inaugurate the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN).
He will be sworn in during the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other members of the Council, including state governors, are expected to attend the meeting to witness Amupitan’s inauguration.
Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was appointed by President Tinubu on October 9, following the completion of Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman. His appointment was ratified by the National Council of State and later confirmed by the Senate after a screening session held last Thursday.
With his inauguration scheduled for tomorrow, Prof. Amupitan will formally assume office and begin preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections as well as early planning for the 2027 general elections.
He succeeds Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who led the electoral body from 2015 until his second term ended this week. Yakubu, who oversaw two general elections, officially handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner, in an acting capacity pending Amupitan’s inauguration.
A renowned legal scholar, Prof. Amupitan specialises in Company Law, Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 and is widely respected in academic and legal circles for his contributions to corporate and governance reforms.
His appointment makes him the 13th substantive chairperson of Nigeria’s electoral body since independence in 1960. Previous occupants of the position include Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976–1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993), and Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), among others.
