The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a rigorous screening that lasted about three hours.
Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu, faced intense questioning from Senators before his confirmation was unanimously approved through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Announcing the confirmation, Akpabio said Amupitan’s appointment was approved “without a single dissenting voice,” urging him to ensure that votes count and elections are credible under his leadership.
During the screening, Amupitan dismissed reports that he served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election petitions, describing the claims as false and misleading.
“I was never part of the APC legal team at the tribunal or the Supreme Court. The law reports are available for anyone to verify,” he told the lawmakers.
He also assured the Senate that his administration would strengthen electoral integrity and logistics, pledging to introduce “innovative systems and voter education programmes” to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
“If confirmed, I will work to ensure that elections are conducted in a manner that losers will be able to congratulate the winners,” he said, promising transparency and inclusiveness in INEC’s operations.
Earlier, Akpabio disclosed that Amupitan had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force, with none finding any criminal or security concerns against him.
The confirmation followed President Tinubu’s request to the Senate on Tuesday for Amupitan’s appointment to be treated with urgency, in line with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
In the letter read by Akpabio, Tinubu described Amupitan as a “distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” expressing confidence that his experience would contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.
Amupitan, a law professor and Senior Advocate, is expected to lead INEC through upcoming off-cycle elections and the build-up to the 2027 general elections, amid growing calls for electoral reform and public trust in the process.
His confirmation comes as Nigerians continue to debate the role of the electoral umpire in ensuring credible, free, and fair elections in the country’s democratic journey.
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