Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Prof. Joash Amupitan as Authentic INEC Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the name of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The President’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session. Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the nomination “expeditious consideration and approval” in the interest of sustaining the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Daily Trust gathered that the nomination has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for legislative scrutiny and confirmation.

It would be recalled that the National Council of State, at its meeting last Thursday, approved Amupitan’s nomination after former INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, voluntarily stepped aside, handing over to National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu in an acting capacity.

If confirmed, Professor Amupitan — a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria and renowned academic — will assume office as the nation’s authentic electoral umpire, succeeding Agbamuche-Mbu, who has been steering INEC in an interim capacity.

In a related development, President Tinubu also sought the Senate’s confirmation of Mrs Ayo Omidiran, a former lawmaker and gender advocate, as the new Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC). His letter equally listed 28 other nominees for appointment as Federal Commissioners, including Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kwara State.

Senate President Akpabio assured that the Red Chamber would give priority to the screening exercise, describing it as part of the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to strengthen key democratic institutions.

Observers view the move as a strategic reshuffle aimed at consolidating public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and reinforcing the administration’s reform agenda ahead of forthcoming elections.