The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The confirmation, which took place during plenary on Wednesday, came after a rigorous screening session that lasted several hours. Senate President Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote, and the motion was carried without any objection from lawmakers, signaling a unanimous approval.
President Tinubu had earlier forwarded Amupitan’s name to the National Assembly in accordance with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to appoint the INEC Chairman subject to Senate confirmation. The National Council of State had also endorsed his nomination before the legislative screening.
During the exercise, Professor Amupitan faced questions bordering on electoral reforms, logistics, and the need to strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. He pledged to ensure that elections under his leadership would be free, credible, and transparent—where, in his words, “losers will congratulate winners.”
Amupitan, a distinguished scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, hails from Aiyetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Born on April 25, 1967, he obtained his LL.B from the University of Jos and was called to the bar in 1988. He later earned his LL.M in 1993 and Ph.D in 2007, all from the same university, where he began his academic career as an assistant lecturer in 1989.
Over the years, he has held several notable positions at the University of Jos, including Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). In 2014, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in recognition of his legal scholarship and contribution to academia.
Before his appointment, Professor Amupitan served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State and was a member of various educational and legal boards, including the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Addressing concerns raised during his screening, Amupitan dismissed reports linking him to partisan legal representation in the 2023 election petitions, clarifying that he did not serve as counsel to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at any point. He assured lawmakers of his unwavering neutrality and commitment to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process.
His confirmation comes at a crucial period as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections, following the expiration of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s 10-year tenure earlier this month. In the interim, May Agbamuche-Mbu had been serving as the Acting INEC Chairman.
The new INEC helmsman is expected to spearhead key electoral reforms, enhance voter education, and restore public confidence in the Commission’s operations. Analysts have described his appointment as both strategic and symbolic, signaling President Tinubu’s intention to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the next electoral cycle.
With his vast academic background, decades of experience in legal administration, and reputation for integrity, many observers believe that Professor Amupitan’s tenure could mark a new chapter in Nigeria’s electoral history.