The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amupitan’s confirmation followed a three-hour screening session on Thursday at the Senate Chamber, where he was grilled by lawmakers on his qualifications, neutrality, and vision for Nigeria’s electoral process.
After the exhaustive session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nomination to a voice vote, and the “ayes” had it — sealing Amupitan’s confirmation without a single dissenting voice.
Akpabio urged the new INEC boss to ensure that “votes count,” adding that his appointment came at a crucial moment for Nigeria’s democracy.
“I Was Never APC’s Counsel,” Says Amupitan
Responding to questions from senators, Amupitan denied allegations that he served as a legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal or at the Supreme Court.
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He stated that official law reports of the cases were available for anyone to verify, insisting that he had no involvement with President Tinubu’s legal team.
Promises Credible Polls and Voter Education
Amupitan pledged to run an electoral commission that would deliver credible, transparent elections where “losers will congratulate winners for the country’s growth and development.”
He also vowed to strengthen logistics management, safeguard election materials through improved security measures, and embark on aggressive voter education across the nation.
Cleared by NSA, DSS, and Police
Before the screening, Senate President Akpabio disclosed that Amupitan had been thoroughly vetted and cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), confirming that he has no criminal record.
Amupitan was admitted into the chamber at 12:50 p.m., after a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), seconded by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), to suspend Order 12 and allow “strangers” into the session.
Background
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate seeking Amupitan’s screening and confirmation as INEC Chairman, in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In his letter, Tinubu described Amupitan as a distinguished legal scholar and urged the Senate to approve his appointment in its “usual expeditious manner.”
With today’s confirmation, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) officially succeeds as Nigeria’s chief electoral umpire, tasked with restoring public confidence in the nation’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.