BREAKING: Senate Confirms Amupitan as INEC Chairman

The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Amupitan’s confirmation followed a voice vote by lawmakers after he was screened and answered questions from members of the Senate.

The professor, who arrived at the National Assembly earlier in the day, exchanged pleasantries with senators before the exercise. He was accompanied by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and other dignitaries.

At about 12:50 p.m., Amupitan was ushered into the chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado. The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved for the suspension of Order 12 to allow visitors into the chamber, a motion seconded by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed the nominee, his family, and his well-wishers, noting that Amupitan had been cleared by the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, who confirmed he had no criminal record.

The screening session, which began around 12:55 p.m., focused on Amupitan’s plans for credible elections, institutional reforms in INEC, and the deployment of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

With his confirmation, Professor Amupitan is set to oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.

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President Bola Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the University of Jos, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Tinubu’s nomination letter was read by Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.

Amupitan, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, is widely known for his expertise in constitutional and international law.