BY VICTOR BUORO – The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Red Chamber’s confirmation followed a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Amupitan underwent screening and answered questions posed by the lawmakers.
The exercise lasted for two hours with Prof Amupitan responding to critical questions from the Lawmakers regarding elections, administration, policy and Electoral Act among others.
Arriving at the National Assembly complex earlier, the new INEC Chairman, accompanied by the Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, and other dignitaries, was seen exchanging pleasantries with the Senators.
At about 12:50 pm, he was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, ahead of the commencement of the exercise.
His admittance into the hallowed chamber came after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber. His motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
In welcoming Prof Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio
commended them for their presence.
Before Amupitan formally introduced himself to the Senators for the question and answer session to commence, Senator Akpabio had informed the Lawmakers that the nominee was cleared by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) after proper security vetting.
Also, the Senate President disclosed that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), having done a fingerprint search on him, had cleared him, saying he has no criminal records with the Police.
Thereafter, the screening began at about 12:55pm after the Senate President outlined the procedures to be followed in considering the nominee’s credentials.
The screening session focused on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and measures to deepen the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Following his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, was nominated by President Tinubu to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in a letter read on the Senate floor by Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
Widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law, Amupitan is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
