The Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The confirmation followed a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Amupitan successfully underwent screening and responded to questions from lawmakers on Wednesday.
Amupitan arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier in the day, where he exchanged pleasantries with senators before the screening session. He was accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.
At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado. He was seated ahead of the commencement of the screening exercise.
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion to suspend Order 12 to allow visitors into the chamber. The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family, and supporters to the chamber, commending them for their presence. He also revealed that the nominee had been cleared by all relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force, confirming that Amupitan had no criminal record.
The screening, which began at 12:55 p.m., centered on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his proposed reforms to strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity, and his plans to deepen the integration of technology into Nigeria’s electoral system.
Following his confirmation, Professor Amupitan is expected to lead INEC in organizing upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman. The nomination letter from the President was read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Akpabio.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Amupitan previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the institution. He is widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional and international law and his commitment to justice and institutional transparency.
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