• Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) confirmed as new INEC Chairman after Senate screening.
• Lawmakers praise his reform-driven vision for credible elections.
• President Tinubu nominated him to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following an extensive screening and voice vote during Thursday’s plenary in Abuja.
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Professor Amupitan’s confirmation came after lawmakers at the National Assembly scrutinised his plans for electoral reform, technological innovation, and the strengthening of public confidence in the electoral process.
He arrived at the Senate earlier in the day in the company of Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries. At about 12:50 p.m., he was ushered into the chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado.
Senate Session and Screening
Before the screening began, 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 Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while welcoming the nominee and his guests, disclosed that background checks conducted by the National Security Adviser’s Office, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that Amupitan had no criminal record.
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“He has been duly cleared by all security agencies,” Akpabio stated before the commencement of the screening.
The session, which began around 12:55 p.m., focused on Amupitan’s proposed reforms to enhance electoral transparency and deepen the integration of technology in election administration.
Lawmakers commended his intellect, professionalism, and vast experience in constitutional and international law, describing him as a scholar with the capacity to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral body.
New Mandate and Responsibilities
Following his confirmation, Professor Amupitan is expected to lead INEC’s preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and begin early planning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the University of Jos, to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The President’s nomination letter, read by Senate President Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, urged lawmakers to expedite confirmation in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Amupitan, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, is widely respected for his contributions to legal scholarship, public sector reform, and constitutional development.
