Isiyaku Ahmed
The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a rigorous screening and confirmation session held on Thursday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Professor Amupitan’s nomination, sent earlier by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was considered by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters before being presented to the full chamber for final approval.
During the screening, lawmakers extensively questioned him on issues surrounding electoral credibility, technology integration, voters’ confidence, and institutional independence.
In his presentation, Professor Amupitan, a renowned legal scholar and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, pledged to strengthen the commission’s integrity and ensure free, fair, and credible elections across the country.
He emphasized the need to deepen transparency in the electoral process, rebuild public trust, and enhance the capacity of INEC officials through continuous training and accountability mechanisms.
“Our democracy is only as strong as the credibility of our elections.
“My focus will be on restoring confidence in the process through transparency, neutrality, and technology-driven reforms,” he told Senators.
Lawmakers across party lines lauded his track record in legal education and public service, describing him as a competent and principled technocrat capable of repositioning INEC for greater efficiency and independence.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, congratulated the new chairman and charged him to uphold the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the commission remains impartial and professional in all its operations.
“This confirmation is not just a vote of confidence in your capacity, but a call to duty to strengthen the foundation of our electoral system,” Akpabio said.
Professor Amupitan succeeds Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended earlier this year, marking a new chapter in the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body.
