BREAKING: President Tinubu Reportedly Appoints New INEC Chairman

President Tinubu has reportedly appointed a new INEC Chairman.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has reportedly settled on Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Current INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who has served since 2015 and was reappointed in 2020, was said to have been directed to proceed on terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his second term in November 2025.

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Sources linked the decision to controversies surrounding Yakubu’s final months in office, including his push to register new political parties and alleged support for a candidate during the Imo State governorship election. These issues reportedly caused disruptions within the Commission, forcing the cancellation of Yakubu’s last consultative sessions with political parties and civil society organizations.

Prof. Amupitan, an accomplished legal scholar and administrator from Kogi State, brings more than 34 years of professional experience to the table. He currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and also holds the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University.

His academic credentials include a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Law from the University of Jos. Over his career, he has held several leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and member of governing councils in various institutions.

If confirmed, Amupitan would take over as INEC Chairman at a time of intense scrutiny of Nigeria’s electoral processes and rising public demand for transparency, credibility, and reforms.