Senate Confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan as New INEC Chairman
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a plenary session held on Thursday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean of Law at the University of Jos, was confirmed after a 3 hours screening session in which he addressed questions on electoral reforms, technology integration, and the independence of the electoral body.
The confirmation, which followed a voice vote, came barely two weeks after President Bola Tinubu nominated him to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure as INEC Chairman ended earlier this month.
Commitment to Electoral Integrity
During his screening, Amupitan pledged to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process by enhancing transparency and expanding the use of technology in elections. He also promised to improve voter education and operational logistics, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
“Our elections must reflect the true will of the people. I intend to consolidate on the gains made, deploy innovations responsibly, and ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised,” he told lawmakers during the session.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, commended the nominee’s “impeccable credentials” and expressed confidence that his legal and academic background would contribute to improving electoral governance in the country.
Mixed Reactions Trail Confirmation
While many lawmakers and political observers have welcomed Amupitan’s confirmation as a step toward sustaining institutional continuity, some civil society groups have voiced concern over what they described as a rushed process.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and other advocacy groups criticized the Senate for what they alleged was a lack of transparency in the confirmation proceedings, urging the new INEC chief to demonstrate impartiality and independence in his tenure.
Profile of the New INEC Chairman
Professor Amupitan, 64, hails from Kogi State and holds a Doctorate in Law. He is widely respected for his scholarship in constitutional and human rights law and has served as a consultant to several state and federal institutions on governance and legal reforms.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Electoral Reform Committee.
Transition at the Electoral Body
Amupitan’s confirmation marks the end of an era for outgoing Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who oversaw two general elections during his tenure and introduced key innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Amupitan comes on board at a time when the trust of Nigerians in the electoral institution is at an all-time low. Nigerians will be expecting of him credible elections, far-reaching electoral reforms, efficiency of INEC’s technological infrastructure, and accountability from electoral officials, amongst others.
