Breaking: Senate Confirms Amupitan as New INEC Chairman

Breaking: Senate Confirms Amupitan as New INEC Chairman

The Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a voice vote and a thorough screening process.

Amupitan, a distinguished Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, arrived at the National Assembly earlier in the day, exchanging greetings with senators before entering the chamber.

He was accompanied by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and other dignitaries. At approximately 12:50 p.m., he was ushered into the Senate chamber by Senator Abubakar Lado, Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), and seated ahead of the proceedings.

To accommodate the nominee’s entourage, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved to suspend Order 12, a motion seconded by Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South). Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family, and supporters, acknowledging their presence and support.

Before the screening began, Akpabio informed the chamber that Amupitan had been vetted and cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, which confirmed he had no criminal record following a fingerprint search.

The screening commenced at 12:55 p.m., with senators evaluating Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his reform agenda for INEC, and his commitment to expanding the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

With his confirmation, Amupitan is set to lead INEC through upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and oversee preparations for the 2027 general elections. He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu, which was formally presented to the Senate during Tuesday’s plenary.

Amupitan, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, is widely respected for his expertise in constitutional and international law and is expected to bring a reform-minded approach to Nigeria’s electoral management.

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