Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu.
Amupitan’s confirmation followed a three-hour screening session during which senators questioned him about his past affiliations and plans for electoral reform.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation after a voice vote, noting that there was no dissenting opinion among lawmakers.
Amupitan denied allegations that he had served as legal counsel to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petitions, stating that court records and law reports were available for verification.
“If confirmed, I will ensure that elections are credible and that losers congratulate winners for the growth and unity of our country,” he told the senators during the hearing.
He pledged to improve election logistics, strengthen voter education, and enhance the security of electoral materials.
Akpabio added that Amupitan had been cleared by the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, who all confirmed that he had no criminal record.
President Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate requesting Amupitan’s swift confirmation under Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Amupitan, a law professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended earlier this year.