PROFILE: Joash Amupitan, the professor of law set to lead INEC to next chapter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered a new phase with the appointment of Joash Ojo Amupitan, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its chairman.

His emergence follows the end of Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, a period that oversaw some of Nigeria’s most contested and transformative elections.

The commission is central to sustaining democracy, from supervising the voter register to ensuring credible polls.

With his appointment, Amupitan is expected to strengthen the commission’s credibility, reinforce transparency, and chart a course for electoral reforms.

WHO IS AMUPITAN?

Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967 in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu LGA of Kogi state. Amupitan is married to Yemisi, and they have four children.

He comes from a family deeply rooted in education and Christian service. His late mother, Alice Ajigba Amupitan, was an educator and church leader in Kogi state.

He obtained his bachelor of laws (LL.B) degree in 1987 at the University of Jos. After his call to the bar in 1988, Amupitan joined the UNIJOS in 1989 as an assistant lecturer. He earned his master of laws (LL.M) in 1993, and later earned his doctor of philosophy (PhD) in law in 2007.

His academic journey was rooted in persistence and a strong commitment to legal scholarship.

Over the decades, his teaching and research have focused on public law, corporate governance, privatisation law, and the law of evidence.

His scholarship includes more than 50 academic works — journal articles, book chapters, monographs, and case reviews.

He has supervised over 30 master of law candidates and more than a dozen doctoral students.

His academic record reflects a career dedicated to shaping legal education and advancing scholarship in Nigeria.

SAN AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

In 2014, Amupitan attained the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the legal profession’s highest recognition.

The rank acknowledged his excellence in practice, research, and contributions to jurisprudence. It positioned him as both an academic and a practitioner who bridges theory and legal reality.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEADERSHIP ROLES

At the University of Jos, Amupitan headed the department of public law before serving as dean of the faculty of law.

He later became chairman of the committee of deans and directors and a member of the university’s governing council.

In 2022, the senate of the university elected him deputy vice-chancellor (administration), a position that broadened his experience in management and governance.

Beyond the university system, Amupitan has served on the governing council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and on the Council of Legal Education.

These positions have placed him at the centre of conversations shaping legal education and practice in Nigeria.

In December 2023, he was appointed pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ilesa, Osun state.

AMUPITAN AND INEC’S NEW ERA

It may be safe to say that Amupitan’s appointment comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of INEC.

The commission faces demands for more transparent processes, improved technology, and timely delivery of elections.

With his combined background in academia, legal reform and institutional governance, expectations are high that he will bring stability, discipline and reform-minded leadership to the commission.

The professor’s knowledge of electoral law reform could be central to addressing loopholes in the system and strengthening enforcement.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As INEC chairman, Amupitan’s immediate tasks include restoring voter confidence, strengthening the credibility of the voter register, and ensuring that technology enhances rather than hinders elections.

He must also balance political pressures with the commission’s independence, a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s democracy.

His trajectory suggests a leader who values law, order, and reform, but how these translate into action at INEC will define his legacy.