Red Chamber Screens Amupitan for Electoral Commission Post

By Deborah Oladapo

The Senate will today screen Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in what marks a key step toward reshaping the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body.

A notice from the Office of the Secretary, Research and Information, signed by Director Bullah Bi-Allah, confirmed that the screening will take place at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, with full media and live television coverage.

President Tinubu had, on Tuesday, requested the Senate to give Amupitan’s appointment “expeditious consideration,” following the endorsement of his nomination by the National Council of State last week. The nominee, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and professor of law at the University of Jos, is expected to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose 10-year tenure recently ended.

Amupitan’s screening comes amid heightened political attention to the independence and credibility of INEC, as stakeholders look ahead to the 2027 general elections.

In separate statements, civil society groups, youth organisations, and political leaders urged senators to ensure a transparent and merit-based confirmation process. The Coalition of Northern Youth Organisations and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have both publicly backed Amupitan, describing him as “a man of integrity and depth of experience.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Nigeria Minorities Group (NNMG) cautioned against efforts to politicise or ethnicise the appointment, noting that Amupitan, an indigene of Kogi State’s Okun ethnic group, represents a northern minority community. The group argued that his selection demonstrates inclusivity and equity in national representation.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also weighed in, advising the nominee to protect his reputation by conducting credible elections. “Whatever position we find ourselves in, it’s to do the right thing. None of us will be there forever,” Obi told journalists in Abuja.

Within the commission itself, Acting INEC Chairperson May Agbamuche-Mbu reiterated that the institution remains committed to the rule of law, noting that the commission’s recent recognition of Labour Party chairman Julius Abure was based on a subsisting court order.

Today’s screening will be watched closely across the country, as it signals the beginning of a new phase for the electoral umpire and a test of the Tinubu administration’s promise to strengthen democratic institutions through credible leadership and reforms.