The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his screening and approval through a voice vote by lawmakers.
The confirmation took place after a brief screening session during which the nominee, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, fielded questions from senators on his plans to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Professor Amupitan, who arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier in the day in the company of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and other dignitaries, was ushered into the chamber at about 12:50 p.m. by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado.
His entry into the chamber followed a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) to suspend Order 12 to allow visitors into the gallery, a motion seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, welcomed the nominee and his family, announcing that Amupitan had been cleared by multiple security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Police Force, which confirmed he had no criminal record.
During the screening, lawmakers quizzed Amupitan on his strategy for delivering credible elections, enhancing transparency in result transmission, and implementing institutional reforms to strengthen INEC’s independence. He also spoke on the need to leverage technology and voter education to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Following his confirmation, Amupitan is expected to immediately assume office and oversee preparations for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections, while also laying the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan earlier in the week to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended recently. The nomination letter was read by Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
A constitutional and international law expert, Amupitan previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos and is known for his academic and policy contributions to governance and legal reform in Nigeria.
