By Deborah Nnamdi
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a rigorous screening session at the National Assembly.
Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu, was grilled by lawmakers for over three hours on his plans to strengthen electoral integrity and address public concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.
During the exercise, Amupitan dismissed claims that he served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petitions, stating that the official court records are open for verification.
He assured the Senate that, if confirmed, he would ensure credible elections “where losers will congratulate winners,” while promising to improve logistics, introduce technology safeguards for election materials, and embark on aggressive voter education across the country.
After the screening, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nomination to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously approved Amupitan’s appointment without any dissenting voice. Akpabio charged the new INEC boss to “ensure elections where votes truly count.”
Before his appearance, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), had moved a motion to suspend Order 12 to allow Amupitan and his entourage into the chamber. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Akpabio informed the plenary that the nominee had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), confirming that he had no criminal record.
President Tinubu had, earlier in the week, forwarded Amupitan’s name to the Senate for confirmation, citing Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In his letter, the President urged the upper chamber to give the nominee expeditious consideration.
With Thursday’s approval, Amupitan, 58, a professor of law, becomes the sixth substantive Chairman of INEC, succeeding Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.
