Tinubu Explains the Rationale for Amupitan's Appointment

Table of Contents

• Appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan
• President's Statement
• Council Approval
• Governor's Remarks
• Next Steps

President Bola Tinubu announced on Thursday that he has appointed Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission due to his neutrality, integrity, and exceptional service record.

In a statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President highlighted that Amupitan is the first individual from Kogi, a North-Central state, to be nominated for this position and is non-partisan.

The President made this announcement at the State House in Abuja during a meeting of the National Council of State, which unanimously approved Professor Amupitan's nomination to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose ten-year term as INEC Chairman ended on Tuesday.

Tinubu informed the council members that Professor Amupitan, a legal scholar from Kogi State in North-Central Nigeria, is the first person from the state to be nominated for the country's highest electoral office.

The council members, including both current and former leaders, endorsed the nomination and described the professor as an individual of impeccable integrity.

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, remarked that Amupitan’s record “demonstrates a profound commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”

With the council's endorsement, the President is poised to submit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in line with constitutional requirements.