By Sola Ojewusi
Barely two weeks after our exclusive report revealed that Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) had been tipped as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the prediction has now been officially confirmed.
The National Council of State on Thursday, October 9, 2025, unanimously approved the appointment of the distinguished scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s formal presentation of his name at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Our earlier report had accurately indicated that Professor Amupitan — a 58-year-old Professor of Law from Kogi State — was the frontrunner in the President’s shortlist, ahead of other contenders from the North-Central and South-West geopolitical zones.
With today’s confirmation, Professor Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose historic 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman formally ended this month.
A Scholar, Advocate, and Institutional Reformer
Renowned for his depth in constitutional and administrative law, Professor Amupitan is not only the first person from Kogi State to hold the position of INEC Chairman but also one of the few legal scholars in Nigeria to attain the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) while maintaining a full-time academic career.
Insiders at the Presidency told our correspondents that President Tinubu’s choice of Amupitan was driven by his “proven integrity, scholarly excellence, and capacity for institutional reform.” The President reportedly emphasized the need for a credible legal mind to lead the nation’s electoral body as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Council’s Endorsement and National Reactions
During Thursday’s Council of State meeting, attended by former Presidents, Heads of State, and state governors, the nomination reportedly received unanimous approval — a rare gesture of national consensus.
Shortly after the announcement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the
