Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The request was read on the floor of the Senate during a plenary session on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who also presented other communications from the President regarding appointments that require legislative approval.
According to the President’s letter, the nomination is in line with the constitutional provisions that mandate Senate confirmation for such appointments. The request has been referred to the committee of the whole for further legislative consideration. This development follows the President’s nomination of Professor Amupitan at the Council of State meeting last Thursday, which was unanimously approved by the council.
Professor Amupitan, a 58-year-old professor of law at the University of Jos, is set to fill the leadership vacancy at INEC following the exit of Mahmood Yakubu. The President described the nominee as an “apolitical” figure, and his nomination received unanimous backing from council members, including former heads of state. Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi state, also endorsed Amupitan, describing him as a “man of integrity.”
As the first person from Kogi state to be nominated for the role of INEC chairman, Professor Amupitan’s appointment is seen as a significant development. His background as a professor of law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (administration) at the University of Jos has been noted. The Senate’s consideration of the nomination is a crucial step in the appointment process, and the outcome will be closely watched.
The nomination of Professor Amupitan has been hailed as a major step towards ensuring the continuity of INEC’s functions. As the electoral commission prepares for future elections, the appointment of a new chairman is vital. The Senate’s decision will be significant in determining the direction of the electoral commission and its ability to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.
