Senate confirms Amupitan as INEC chairman
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During a screening by the Committee of the Whole that lasted about three hours, senators questioned him on issues of impartiality, past legal engagements, and plans to strengthen election integrity. He denied ever acting as counsel to the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 Presidential Election petitions, citing that law reports are public and verifiable.
After the screening, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, called for a voice vote in plenary, and Amupitan was approved unanimously without any dissenting voice. His confirmation comes following the end of Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC chair and the interim service of May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Amupitan pledged to audit INEC’s technology systems to reinforce credibility, improve logistics, and assure that future elections are transparent and fair. He also emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence in electoral processes, where losers would accept results.
