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President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm Prof. Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presented the request during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday.
Akpabio also communicated additional appointments from the President that require legislative approval.
The president’s letter indicated that the nomination aligns with the constitutional provisions that necessitate Senate confirmation for such appointments.
The request has been forwarded to the committee of the whole for further legislative review.
DAILY POST recalls that last Thursday, during the Council of State meeting, the President nominated Prof. Amupitan to fill the leadership vacancy at the electoral commission.
The Council of State unanimously endorsed the nomination of Amupitan as the next INEC Chairman, following the departure of Mahmood Yakubu.
Tinubu informed the council that Amupitan, a native of Kogi State in the north-central geopolitical zone, is the first individual from the state to be nominated for the position of INEC chairman.
According to a statement from the presidential spokesman, Tinubu characterized the nominee as an “apolitical” individual.
Council members, including former heads of state, unanimously supported the nomination. Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi State, also referred to Amupitan as a “man of integrity.”
Amupitan, 58, is a professor of law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau State, where he additionally serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prof. Joash Amupitan?
Prof. Joash Amupitan is a professor of law at the University of Jos and has been nominated by President Bola Tinubu to serve as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
What is the role of the Senate in this nomination?
The Senate is required to confirm the nomination of the INEC Chairman as part of the constitutional provisions for such appointments.
What was the outcome of the Council of State meeting regarding Amupitan's nomination?
The Council of State unanimously approved the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan as the next INEC Chairman.
