PHOTOS: Prof. Amupitan Resumes as INEC Chair, Vows to Uphold Electoral Integrity

By Emmanuel Kwada

Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a seasoned law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), officially assumed duties as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, marking the end of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s decade-long tenure.

Sworn in earlier in the day by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Amupitan wasted no time diving into leadership. Photographs from the INEC headquarters captured the 58-year-old Kogi-born academic in high-level meetings with directors, national commissioners, staff, and members of the press corps.

Amupitan addressed the gathering with poise, emphasizing his commitment to “reinforcing Nigeria’s democracy through transparent and credible elections.”

Amupitan, a University of Jos alumnus and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) there, brings over three decades of expertise in electoral law reform, corporate governance, and public administration.

His nomination, unanimously approved by the National Council of State earlier this month, has been hailed as a nod to apolitical leadership from the North-Central region.

As Yakubu’s two-term era closes—spanning key elections from 2015 to 2023—stakeholders like PDP’s Timothy Osadolor urged Amupitan to prioritize reforms for deeper democratic consolidation. No official statement on immediate priorities was issued, but sources say Amupitan’s first agenda includes staff briefings on upcoming polls.

Photos circulating online show Amupitan shaking hands with Yakubu’s outgoing team, symbolizing a smooth transition amid Nigeria’s evolving electoral landscape.