By Kabiru Abdulrauf
President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, on Thursday appeared before the Senate for screening.
Amupitan, who arrived at the National Assembly around 12:50 p.m.was accompanied by the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and other dignitaries. He was led into the Red Chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, ahead of his formal appearance before lawmakers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed the nominee, his family members, and other guests to the plenary before outlining the procedure for the screening exercise.
In his remarks before the Committee of the Whole, Amupitan pledged to strengthen the independence of the electoral body if confirmed. He said one of his priorities would be to “explore the Constitution to make INEC truly independent,” noting that challenges in asserting the commission’s autonomy often stem from financial constraints and ignorance of the law.
The law professor told Senators that his administration would focus on ensuring that INEC operates without external interference, particularly in its funding, decision-making, and execution of electoral duties.
“I will explore the provisions of the law to guarantee true independence for INEC,” he said. “The commission must be empowered to discharge its responsibilities transparently, fairly, and without undue influence.”
The nominee’s screening marks a crucial step toward the confirmation process for Nigeria’s next electoral umpire, following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who has served since 2015.
If confirmed, Prof. Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
