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Senate Confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman
His confirmation followed a rigorous three-hour screening session during which senators grilled the nominee, who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Abuja, Nigeria– The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His confirmation followed a rigorous three-hour screening session during which senators grilled the nominee, who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
After deliberations in the Committee of the Whole, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nomination to a voice vote, and the “ayes” overwhelmingly carried the day, with no dissenting voices.
In his remarks, Akpabio congratulated the new INEC boss and charged him to uphold the sanctity of the ballot and ensure that “votes count” in future elections.
During the screening, Prof. Amupitan dispelled allegations that he served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and at the Supreme Court.
He maintained that law reports and case records are publicly available for verification, affirming his neutrality and commitment to fairness.
Amupitan assured the Senate that, if confirmed, he would prioritise electoral integrity, transparency, and logistics improvement.
He also pledged to strengthen voter education and introduce measures such as the use of cloned materials to safeguard electoral documents from tampering.
“I will ensure that elections in Nigeria are credible enough for losers to congratulate winners,” he said, promising to steer INEC toward a future where electoral outcomes reflect the will of the people.