ABUJA: The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The confirmation followed a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after the nominee was screened and questioned by lawmakers during plenary in Abuja.
Amupitan, who arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier in the day, was accompanied by Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.
He was ushered into the chamber at about 12:50 p.m. by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, after the Senate suspended Order 12 to admit visitors into the gallery.
Senate President Akpabio welcomed the nominee and disclosed that he had been cleared by the National Security Adviser’s office, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Police Force, which confirmed he had no criminal record.
During the screening, Amupitan outlined his vision for credible and technology-driven elections, institutional reforms within INEC, and improved transparency in the electoral process.
Following his confirmation, he is expected to oversee upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lead preparations for the 2027 general polls.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Jos to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Amupitan is widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional and international law.
