Tag: INEC Chairman

2027: “I’ll stop rigging, vote-buying; you can quote me” – Amupitan vows

Aminu Imam
Amupitan vows

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday, expressed his resolve “to combat all forms of election rigging, including the menace of vote-buying”. This, he said, had become non-negotiable because “the eyes of the nation are upon us. The public trust placed in INEC is sacred”. Amupitan, who took the reins of leadership in INEC in October, gave the commitment while swearing in  Prof. Adeniran Tella as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State. The ceremony, held at the Commission’s headquarters, marked Tella’s redeployment…

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Group demands INEC Chairman’s resignation over “divisive” 2020 legal brief

Aminu Imam
Group on Amupitan’s resignation

A civic advocacy group, Citizens Watch for Good Governance (CWGG), has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), over what it described as a “controversial and divisive” legal brief he authored in 2020. In a statement signed by its National President, Collins Idowu, the group said the resurfaced document contained “reckless and inflammatory” remarks that cast doubt on Professor Amupitan’s ability to oversee Nigeria’s elections impartially. The brief, reportedly written during the administration of the Late President…

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Tinubu swears-in Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

Aminu Imam
Tinubu swears in Amupitan

…New Chief pledges credible, transparent elections President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday swore-in Professor Joash Amupitan, (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a charge to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen the institution’s capacity ahead of future elections. The ceremony, held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja at about 1:50 p.m., followed the Senate’s confirmation of Amupitan’s appointment on October 16, after a rigorous screening session. Speaking shortly after taking his oath of office, Prof. Amupitan described…

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Senate confirms Amupitan as INEC Chairman, orders comprehensive audit

Aminu Imam
Senate confirms Amupitan

The 10th Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). His confirmation followed a thorough screening session yesterday, during which lawmakers engaged the nominee on a range of electoral and administrative issues.  After responding to several questions, Amupitan was asked to take a bow and leave the Senate chamber, after which the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a Motion for the restoration of floor privileges earlier suspended. The Motion was seconded by the Minority Leader and adopted through a voice…

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Senate to hold screening for new INEC chairman today

Aminu Imam
Senate screens INEC chair

The 10th Senate will today conduct the screening of Joash Amupitan, the nominee of President Bola Tinubu, for the position of chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The announcement was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary, Research and Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah. According to the statement, the screening will take place at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly complex in Abuja. It urged newsmen to provide their usual media coverage to ensure the public is adequately…

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Tinubu seeks Senate confirmation of Amupitan as INEC Chairman

Aminu Imam
Tinubu INEC Chairman

President Bola Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  The request was read on the floor of the 10th Senate by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Tuesday. Akpabio also read other communications from the President regarding appointments that require legislative approval. According to the letter, the nomination is in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, which mandates Senate confirmation for such appointments. The request has been…

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Tinubu names Prof. Joash Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

Aminu Imam
Tinubu appoints INEC Chairman

…Council of State backs appointment President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), following the approval of the National Council of State yesterday. The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the Council unanimously endorsed Amupitan’s nomination.  President Tinubu described him as “a man of integrity” and the first person from Kogi State—and the North-Central region—to be nominated for the role. His name will be…

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INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu resigns

Aminu Imam
Tinubu INEC Chair Yakubu

…Hands over to Agbamuche-Mbu Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has resigned after ten years in office. Yakubu made the announcement yesterday, during the Commission’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, describing it as his final session as chairman. Yakubu, who has led the electoral body since 2015, said his decision to step down was in line with Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), aimed at ensuring a smooth leadership transition as INEC enters a busy election period. Following his…

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“Nigerians must know your candidates for INEC Chairman” – SERAP to Tinubu

Aminu Imam
SERAP Tinubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), has asked President Bola Tinubu to make public the details of the process for appointing the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a letter dated September 27 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said Nigerians deserve to know the number and names of candidates for INEC chairman and whether the Council of State has been consulted, as constitutionally required. “A transparent and accountable process would serve legitimate public interests”, SERAP said. SERAP cited Section 154(1) of…

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2027: “Nigeria needs a decent INEC Chairman to midwife polls” – Timi Frank

Aminu Imam
Timi Frank

….Warns against Nepal-style protests in Nigeria A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement vital reforms ahead of the 2027 elections to ensure free, fair, and credible election. According to him, without urgent reforms and ethical leadership by electoral and security institutions, “Nigeria faces heightened risk of violence and political instability akin to the #ENDSARS and Nepal upheaval, undermining the nation’s democratic gains”. Frank, in a statement issued in Abuja,…

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