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 referred to the ‘Committee-of-the-whole’ for further legislative consideration.
Recall that last Thursday, the President presented Amupitan’s name as his preferred nominee to fill the leadership vacancy at the electoral Commission.
The Council of State unanimously approved the nomination of Amupitan as the next INEC Chairman, following the exit of Mahmood Yakubu. Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan, an indigene of Kogi state in the North-Central geo-political zone, is the first person from the state to be nominated for the role of INEC chairman.
According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Tinubu described the nominee as an ‘apolitical’ figure.
Council members, including former Heads of State, gave unanimous backing to the nomination. Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo, also described Amupitan as a “man of integrity”.
Amupitan, 58, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau state, where he also serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (administration).
