President Bola Tinubu is expected to present his preferred candidate for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the National Council of State today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The current INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, will complete his tenure next month and has already handed over to the most senior National Commissioner, Dame May Agbamuche-Mbu, earlier this week.
Sources from the presidency disclosed that Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a law scholar from Kogi State and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos, is the top contender for the position.
Amupitan, who has been screened by security agencies, is said to have strong credentials in corporate governance, evidence law, and privatization law.
Tinubu’s move to select a successor early contrasts with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in appointing a substantive INEC chairman in 2015 after Professor Attahiru Jega’s tenure ended.
Buhari’s decision then led to months of uncertainty within the commission and sparked public controversy when Amina Zakari was briefly appointed in an acting capacity.By seeking the approval of the National Council of State before Yakubu’s tenure expires, Tinubu aims to avoid a repeat of past administrative lapses and maintain continuity in the electoral body’s leadership.
The process of appointing an INEC chairman is guided by the 1999 Constitution, which mandates presidential nomination, Senate confirmation, and consultation with the National Council of State.
However, some of Tinubu’s earlier INEC appointments reportedly bypassed the full consultative process, drawing criticism from civic groups such as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
According to sources close to Aso Rock, the president has taken a personal interest in ensuring a credible and transparent appointment process.
He has reportedly faced pressure from influential politicians proposing their preferred candidates, but he has maintained discretion while consulting key figures, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
Tinubu’s approach is said to be guided by a desire to restore public confidence in the electoral process, especially after past elections faced widespread criticism over technical failures with the BVAS and IReV systems.
Insiders suggest the president’s choice is influenced by a combination of professional integrity, non-partisanship, and experience in public administration.
He is determined to ensure that the next INEC chairman commands public trust and strengthens Nigeria’s democratic credibility at home and abroad.Meanwhile, fresh reports indicate that the registration of several new political parties may have played a role in Yakubu’s early exit.
Some sources claim that one of the newly registered parties was linked to a top politician’s 2027 governorship ambition, prompting complaints to the presidency and leading to Yakubu’s early handover.
If approved by the Council of State, Professor Amupitan’s appointment would mark a new phase in INEC’s leadership as preparations begin for upcoming elections and electoral reforms under the current administration.