The National Council of State has officially confirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a crucial step in the leadership transition at Nigeria’s electoral body.

The confirmation followed the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, in an acting capacity earlier this week.

At the Council meeting held on Thursday in Abuja and presided over by President Tinubu, the body approved the appointment of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new substantive INEC Chairman, according to sources familiar with the deliberations.

Prof. Amupitan, a legal scholar and former Dean of Law at the University of Jos, currently serves as the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). He hails from Kogi State and is widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and electoral law.

With the Council’s endorsement, Amupitan’s nomination is expected to be transmitted to the Senate for final confirmation in line with Section 154 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates legislative approval for key federal appointments.

His appointment comes at a time when stakeholders are demanding stronger institutional independence and electoral transparency.

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Civil society groups have urged the government to ensure the process remains open and non-partisan.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman, Agbamuche-Mbu, is expected to continue overseeing the Commission’s affairs until the Senate concludes its confirmation process.

The change in leadership is occurring amid preparations for several off-cycle governorship elections and ahead of major electoral reforms expected to be introduced before the 2027 general elections.