EXCLUSIVE: Prof. Joash Amupitan Poised To Take Over As INEC Boss Amid Tinubu-Yakubu Rift

The political chessboard in Nigeria is set for a dramatic shake-up as Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a distinguished legal scholar, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Authoritative sources revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has quietly directed Prof. Yakubu to proceed on terminal leave ahead of the formal expiration of his tenure in December 2025. The move, insiders say, was triggered by what the presidency considered a “last-minute betrayal” by the embattled electoral umpire.

Behind The Curtain: Why Yakubu Fell Out Of Favour

President Tinubu’s decision reportedly followed a high-stakes meeting with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, shortly after Tinubu’s return from a 12-day working vacation. Uzodimma allegedly accused Yakubu of engaging in actions that unsettled the president’s re-election preparations, including fast-tracking the registration of new political parties and allegedly backing a candidate in the hotly contested Imo governorship poll.

These revelations, according to presidency insiders, infuriated Tinubu, who immediately instructed Yakubu to stand down and cancel all pending engagements—including a final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties and a scheduled session with civil society organisations.

The presidency is now expected to forward the name of Yakubu’s successor to the National Assembly in the coming days, with Professor Amupitan identified as the top choice.

Yakubu’s Eventful Decade At INEC

Professor Yakubu’s tenure, which began in November 2015 after his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been anything but uneventful. His two-term, 10-year service spanned Nigeria’s most fiercely contested elections, marked by innovations, controversies, and persistent calls for electoral reform.

Yakubu’s first five-year term ended in November 2020, but he was reappointed and confirmed by the Senate for a second and final term. His tenure officially ends in December 2025, but political undercurrents appear to have hastened his exit.

Who Is Prof. Joash Amupitan?

Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, is not a stranger to Nigeria’s legal and academic landscape. With over 34 years of experience, Amupitan is celebrated as a seasoned scholar, administrator, and advocate of corporate governance and electoral reform.

Academic Journey: He began his career at the University of Jos in 1989, steadily rising from Assistant Lecturer to full Professor of Law in 2008.

Administrative Roles: He has served as Head of the Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and member of the University Governing Council.

National Influence: He has contributed to policy as a Governing Council member of both the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Presently, he is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

Leadership Beyond Jos: In December 2023, he was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU).


Amupitan earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Bar in 1988. He later obtained his LL.M. in 1993 and his Ph.D. in Law in 2007 from the same institution. In recognition of his stellar contributions to the legal profession, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.

His core areas of expertise include Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Privatisation Law, and Corporate Law. His extensive research contributions span electoral law reforms, petroleum sector reforms, and corporate governance frameworks.

What Next?

If confirmed, Amupitan will inherit the enormous responsibility of steering Nigeria’s electoral body through one of its most critical phases—restoring public confidence in INEC, implementing long-delayed electoral reforms, and managing the political heat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

For now, all eyes are on the Presidency and National Assembly as the battle for Nigeria’s electoral future takes a decisive turn.