Abuja

The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name during the Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 until October 2025. President Tinubu described Professor Amupitan as “a man of integrity and professionalism,” noting that he is the first individual from Kogi State — within the North-Central geopolitical zone — to be nominated for the position. The President further emphasized that Amupitan is non-partisan and possesses the competence and credibility required to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process. Read Also: Tinubu Presides Over Council of State Meeting at Presidential Villa Council members unanimously endorsed the nomination, with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commending the choice, saying, “Professor Amupitan is a man of integrity whose credentials speak for themselves.” In line with constitutional requirements, President Tinubu will now forward Amupitan’s nomination to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Born on April 25, 1967, Professor Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he also serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). A renowned scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2014, Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He earned his LLB and LLM from the University of Jos in 1987 and 1993, respectively, and obtained his PhD in Law from the same institution in 2007. He began his academic career in 1989 after completing his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation. Over the years, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008–2014), Head of Public Law (2006–2008), and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012–2014). Outside academia, Amupitan has contributed significantly to both public and private sectors. He is the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State, and serves on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education. He has authored several notable legal texts, including Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013). Professor Amupitan is married and blessed with four children. Signed: Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy)

Nigeria’s Senate is set to reconvene on Tuesday after an extended recess, with a crowded agenda dominated by long-delayed debates on national security and electoral reforms that citizens have been anxiously awaiting. The upper chamber postponed its initial resumption date from September 23 to October 7, 2025, prolonging its annual break by two weeks and delaying deliberations on several key national issues. Among the pending items are the proposed National Security Summit, amendments to the Electoral Act, the 2025 Constitution Alteration Bill, and the long-stalled National Assembly Budget and Research Office Bill — a two-decade-old proposal intended to strengthen fiscal oversight through independent budget analysis. Read Also: Presidency Moves to Cut Hajj Costs for 2026 Pilgrims In an internal memo signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, lawmakers were informed of the shift, which he described as regrettable. “This is to respectfully inform Distinguished Senators that the resumption of plenary sitting of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2025, has been shifted to Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Any inconvenience this short notice may cause is deeply regretted,” the memo read. Although the Senate leadership did not offer an official explanation, legislative sources told The PUNCH that the extension was meant to allow lawmakers to fully participate in Nigeria’s October 1 Independence Day activities. The delay has stirred public frustration, as the Senate faces mounting pressure to address worsening insecurity and push forward electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 polls. The proposed Security Summit, led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and a 20-member ad hoc committee, is expected to outline new strategies to counter rising violence across the country. “No amount of investment in infrastructure will yield meaningful results without peace and stability,” Bamidele said at the committee’s inaugural meeting in June. Also awaiting debate is the Constitution Alteration Bill (SB. 855), sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West), which seeks to amend sections of the 1999 Constitution widely criticised as outdated and unfit for Nigeria’s evolving democracy. Senate President Akpabio has frequently defended the chamber’s record, noting in June that the 10th Senate had already considered 844 pieces of legislation, including 26 executive bills, with another 499 awaiting second reading. “It is a record that has not been held by any Nigerian Senate in two years,” Akpabio said during a Democracy Day joint session attended by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Critics, however, argue that the Senate’s frequent adjournments and prolonged recesses have slowed momentum on key reforms, casting doubt on lawmakers’ commitment to tackling the country’s deepening security, electoral, and economic crises.