NIGERIA: Senate Confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a screening session held during Thursday’s plenary.

The confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole, which conducted the screening in the Senate Chamber. Lawmakers engaged the nominee in a series of questions about electoral reforms, logistics, and institutional integrity, issues critical to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

After satisfactorily responding to the lawmakers’ inquiries, Professor Amupitan was asked to take a bow and leave the chamber. His performance during the screening was widely commended by senators across party lines.

Subsequently, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion to restore all privileges earlier suspended for the exercise. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, and it was adopted through a voice vote.

When the question for confirmation was put to vote, the senators unanimously approved the nomination. Declaring the result, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said:

“The nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan for appointment as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission is hereby confirmed.”

With his confirmation, Professor Amupitan officially succeeds the immediate past INEC Chairman, and will oversee the electoral body responsible for conducting national and state elections across the country.

The newly confirmed INEC Chairman has previously pledged to audit the commission’s 2023 election logistics and strengthen institutional transparency to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.