ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, following a voice vote and a screening session that focused on electoral reform and transparency.
Amupitan, a constitutional law scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu to succeed outgoing chairman Mahmood Yakubu. His nomination was formally presented to the Senate earlier in the week.
The confirmation followed a screening exercise in which Amupitan outlined his plans to strengthen INEC’s institutional integrity, improve logistics, and expand the use of technology in election management. He emphasized the need for credible elections and public trust.
Amupitan arrived at the National Assembly complex accompanied by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and other dignitaries. He was ushered into the Senate chamber by Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abubakar Lado
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan and his family, noting that the nominee had been cleared by the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Inspector-General of Police, who confirmed he had no criminal record.
The Senate suspended its standing rules to allow visitors into the chamber, following a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and support from Minority Leader Abba Moro.
During the screening, Amupitan addressed concerns about INEC’s Results Viewing Portal, citing a Supreme Court ruling that it was not part of the official collation system. He pledged to improve public communication and operational clarity.
He also proposed the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute election-related crimes, citing INEC’s current lack of investigative capacity.
Amupitan’s confirmation comes ahead of several off-cycle governorship elections and positions him to lead preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Widely respected for his expertise in constitutional and international law, Amupitan previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos.
