Senate Begins Screening Of Tinubu’s INEC Chair Nominee, Amupitan

16 Oct 2025, 12:37 by Enioluwa Adeniyi · Naija News

The Senate on Thursday commenced the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN).

Naija News reports that Amupitan was ushered into the red chamber at exactly 12:50 pm after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion to set aside Order 12 to allow “strangers” into the chamber. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).

Before the nominee introduced himself, Senate President Godswill Akpabio informed lawmakers that Amupitan had been thoroughly vetted by security agencies.

According to Akpabio, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the Inspector-General of Police all cleared him after background checks and fingerprint searches.

“The reports show he has no criminal records,” Akpabio told his colleagues.

Amupitan immediately began to present his resume to senators ahead of the question-and-answer session.

His screening follows Tinubu’s request to the Senate on Tuesday for expeditious consideration and confirmation of his appointment.

In the letter read by Akpabio during plenary, Tinubu wrote, “In accordance with the provisions of section 154 subsection 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, 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 Senate has since referred the request to the committee of the whole for immediate legislative action.