President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm Professor Joash Amupitan as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The nomination was communicated through a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session. The request complies with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution, and the Senate President has referred it to the Committee of the Whole for prompt consideration.
Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a Professor of Law from Kogi State, currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos. He is the first nominee from Kogi State for the INEC chairmanship. His appointment follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman in October 2025.
The nomination was unanimously endorsed by the National Council of State at a recent meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Tinubu described Amupitan as an “apolitical” figure with integrity, a view supported by Council members and notable figures such as Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo.
In addition to Amupitan’s nomination, President Tinubu also sought Senate approval for Mrs. Ayo Omidiran as Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission and for 28 other Federal Commissioners, including Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kwara State.The Senate is expected to expedite its screening and confirmation process to formalize these appointments.This development marks a significant step towards stabilizing leadership in Nigeria’s electoral body ahead of future elections.
