President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to screen and confirm the appointment of Joash Amupitan as the substantive chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The president’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on Tuesday.
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In the letter, Mr Tinubu said his request was in accordance with section 154 (1) of the constitution
“In accordance with provisions of Sections 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Attached is his curriculum vitae.
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“While hoping that the Senate will consider and confirm the appointment of the nominee in its usual expeditious manner, please accept, distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter read.
After reading the letter, Mr Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee of the Whole for consideration as soon as practicable.
“This is referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration as soon as practicable,” the Senate president said after reading the letter.
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Mr Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and law professor at the University of Jos, was appointed as INEC chairperson by President Tinubu last Thursday after ratification by the National Council of State.
A specialist in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law, Mr Amupitan was conferred with the rank of SAN in September 2014.
He succeeds Mahmood Yakubu, also a professor, who served as INEC Chairperson from 2015 until his second tenure ended last Tuesday. Mr Yakubu has since handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner by appointment.
While many Nigerians and civil society organisations working on democracy and elections have welcomed the appointment, they have also called for a transparent and merit-based confirmation process.
If confirmed, Mr Amupitan will become the 13th substantive INEC Chair since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. His predecessors are Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976–1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993), Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), Attahiru Jega (2010–2015), and Mahmood Yakubu (2015–2025).
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