Senate Confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman

The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His confirmation followed a rigorous three-hour screening session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday.

Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu earlier in the week, fielded questions from lawmakers on his qualifications, past affiliations, and plans for Nigeria’s electoral reforms. During the session, he firmly denied allegations linking him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team during the 2023 presidential election petition, stressing that court records are available to verify his claim.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after a unanimous voice vote, with no dissenting opinions from the chamber. Akpabio congratulated Amupitan and urged him to uphold electoral integrity and ensure that “votes truly count.”

In his remarks, the new INEC Chairman pledged to strengthen the commission’s logistics and transparency, promising to deploy technology and innovative measures to safeguard election materials. He added that his leadership would focus on aggressive voter education and credible elections where “losers will be free to congratulate winners.”

Before the confirmation, Akpabio revealed that Amupitan had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, confirming that he has no criminal record.

President Tinubu’s letter nominating Amupitan was read to the Senate earlier in the week, in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The President had urged the Senate to expedite consideration and approval of the appointment, describing Amupitan as a “distinguished scholar and legal mind capable of driving credible electoral reforms.”

Amupitan’s confirmation marks a new chapter for INEC as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections, with expectations high for a more transparent and technologically driven electoral process.