The Senate is currently screening the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, for confirmation.

Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier on Thursday, where he exchanged pleasantries with lawmakers before being ushered into the chamber. He was accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.

At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was escorted into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado. The motion to suspend Order 12 to allow Amupitan and his entourage into the chamber was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), and seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).

Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber. Akpabio disclosed that the nominee had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the Inspector-General of Police after thorough background checks and fingerprint verification.

The screening exercise commenced around 12:55 p.m., following Akpabio’s opening remarks outlining the procedures for the confirmation process.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier nominated Prof. Amupitan to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who resigned from his position as INEC Chairman. The President’s nomination letter was read on the floor of the Senate during Tuesday’s plenary.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, Amupitan is widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional and international law.

His appointment has, however, elicited mixed reactions from civil society groups and political stakeholders, with calls for deeper reforms to strengthen the independence and transparency of the electoral body.

The screening session is expected to focus on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and strategies to enhance the deployment of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

If confirmed, Amupitan will lead INEC’s preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.