Nigeria’s Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday.
Amupitan, a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was screened by lawmakers after answering questions on his vision for credible elections, institutional reform, and the role of technology in Nigeria’s voting process.
The session, held in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, was attended by the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries. Amupitan was ushered in around 12:50 p.m. by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, following a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) to suspend Senate Order 12 to allow visitors into the chamber.
Before the screening began, Akpabio informed lawmakers that Amupitan had been cleared by the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Inspector-General of Police, confirming he had no criminal record.
In his presentation, Amupitan outlined his plans to strengthen INEC’s independence, deepen the integration of digital technologies in the electoral process, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Following his confirmation, Amupitan is expected to lead INEC’s preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the foundation for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently came to an end. The nomination letter was read by Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
Widely respected for his expertise in constitutional and international law, Amupitan previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos and is known for his advocacy on strengthening the rule of law and institutional accountability in Nigeria.
