President Bola Tinubu has sent a formal request to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of Prof. Joash Amupitan as the substantive Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The letter was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during 14th of October, Tuesday’s plenary session. Akpabio also presented other messages from the President related to appointments requiring Senate ratification.
Tinubu’s communication to the lawmakers stated that the nomination complied with constitutional requirements, which stipulate Senate confirmation for such key positions.
The upper chamber has referred the request to the committee of the whole for detailed consideration.
Last Thursday, during the Council of State meeting, President Tinubu announced the nomination of Prof. Amupitan to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.
The Council gave unanimous approval to the nomination after deliberations. At the meeting, Tinubu highlighted that Amupitan, a native of Kogi State in the North-Central region, is the first individual from the state to be nominated for the INEC chairmanship.
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In a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Tinubu described the nominee as an “apolitical” professional.
Members of the Council, including former heads of state, supported the choice, while Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo commended Amupitan as a “man of integrity.”
Prof. Joash Amupitan, aged 58, is a seasoned law scholar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, Plateau State.