Except for any unforseen circumstances, the newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, will face lawmakers in the Senate tomorrow (Thursday) for screening.
The Office of the Secretary Research and Information in the National Assembly, dropped the hint in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the
Director Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah.
The statement partly reads: “The Office of the Secretary Research and Information wishes to notify members of the press and the general public that the Senate will, tomorrow, Thursday, 16th October, 2025, conduct the screening of the nominee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan SAN, as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The exercise is scheduled to hold at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex.”
President Bola Tinubu had formally written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of Amupitan as the chairman of the electoral commission.
Tinubu explained in a letter to the Red Chamber and read during plenary on Tuesday by its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, that Amupitan’s nomination was in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, which mandates Senate confirmation for such appointments.
“In accordance with the provisions of section 154 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the letter reads.
Akpabio, accordingly referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for legislative action as soon as practicable.
Last Thursday, the President presented Amupitan’s name as his preferred nominee to fill the leadership vacancy at the INEC to the Council of State, which unanimously approved the nomination following the exit of the erstwhile chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Tinubu told the council that Amupitan, an indigene Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State in the North Central geopolitical zone, is the first person from the state to be nominated to head the electoral commission.
The nominee, 58, is a Professor of Law, until his appointment serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State.