The Senate will today, Thursday, conduct the screening of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, for confirmation as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This was announced in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Senate’s Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to Hobnob News in Abuja.
The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate on Tuesday, seeking swift confirmation of Amupitan’s appointment, which was endorsed by the National Council of State last week.
According to the circular, the screening is scheduled to take place in the Senate Chamber at the National Assembly Complex, with live coverage expected from major television stations.
President Tinubu, in his letter to the Senate, said the nomination was made in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), urging lawmakers to give it “expeditious consideration.”
He wrote, “I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
Amupitan’s nomination comes at a crucial moment for Nigeria’s electoral system, as debates over INEC’s independence and credibility intensify following recent post-election reviews.
While the Presidency has described him as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” opposition parties and civil society groups have called on the Senate to ensure a transparent and merit-based screening process.
Political observers say today’s screening will be closely watched nationwide, as it could signal the Tinubu administration’s commitment to electoral reform and credible polls ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Northern Nigeria Minorities Group (NNMG) has cautioned against what it described as attempts to “ethnicise” Amupitan’s appointment.
In a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by its Convener, Chief Jacob Edi, the group condemned divisive commentaries questioning the President’s decision, noting that Amupitan, an indigene of Kogi State’s Okun ethnic group, represents one of the minority nationalities in northern Nigeria.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Amupitan is an Okun man from Kogi State — one of the minority ethnic nationalities in Northern Nigeria. These narratives seeking to delegitimise his nomination are false, divisive, and inimical to national unity,” Edi stated.
The NNMG hailed the President for promoting inclusivity, saying Amupitan’s nomination marks the first time in 65 years that someone from a northern minority group has been chosen to lead Nigeria’s electoral body.
Edi added, “The appointment of Professor Amupitan should be celebrated as a bold step toward inclusivity, equity, and meritocracy. Competence, not ethnicity, must define our democracy.”
He further urged Nigerians to support the new nominee and resist the temptation to politicise national appointments, stressing that the country’s unity and progress depend on fairness, diversity, and merit.
The Senate screening session is expected to attract wide public attention, with analysts describing it as a key moment in shaping the credibility of future elections and public trust in INEC’s leadership.
— Hobnob News
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