By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amupitan’s confirmation followed a screening exercise at the Senate, which lasted for three hours on Thursday, October 16, where the lawmakers questioned the nominee of President Bola Tinubu on Nigeria’s electoral processes.
After the Committee of the Whole, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, asked if the confirmation was a true reflection of the House, to which the senators unanimously agreed.
Following the response, Akpabio urged Amupitan to ensure he carries out his job of ensuring that every vote counts during any election.
In his response to questions during the screening exercise, Amupitan said he was never a legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2023 Presidential Electoral Petition at the Tribunal and up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He further stated that the law reports of the copies for the cases are available for everyone to review if he was part of President Tinubu’s legal team.
Amupitan said once he is confirmed as INEC Chairman, he will ensure the conduct of credible elections where the losers congratulate the winners for the country’s growth and development.
He noted that part of electoral reforms he will champion include logistics changes to ensure that the INEC uses clones to safeguard materials.
He also said he will aggressively push for voter education, especially at primary school level.
“We will introduce voter education at the primary school level so that it will be part of the upbringing of the children,” Amupitan said.
Following his confirmation, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general election.
Recall that President Tinubu had on Tuesday written to the Senate seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of Prof. Amupitan as the new national chairman of INEC following the resignation of former chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu.
The president’s letter, read by the Senate President, Akpabio, sought expeditious consideration and approval by the Senate.
