Senate Confirms Prof. Amupitan as New INEC Chairman Amid Applause and Caution from Civil Society

By Abiola Adigun| Albarka 89.9 FM| Ilorin

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu whose tenure ended earlier this month.
Amupitan’s confirmation, which sailed through without dissent, makes him the sixth substantive head of the electoral umpire since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. His appointment has been greeted with commendations from lawmakers and cautious optimism — even concern — from civil society groups questioning the autonomy of the legislature and the future credibility of elections under his watch.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, subjected the nomination to a voice vote that passed overwhelmingly. In his remarks, Akpabio praised the nominee’s academic pedigree and professional integrity, describing him as “a fit and proper person for the job.”
“We looked at your résumé. The DSS and Police have both confirmed that you have no criminal record and no known medical issues. You are eminently qualified,” Akpabio said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro also endorsed Amupitan’s suitability. Moro, however, urged the new INEC boss to ensure his wealth of academic and legal experience translates into credible elections.
“Having satisfied the constitutional requirements, I urge you to demonstrate how your background will improve the transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process,” Moro said.
Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), a former governor and colleague of the nominee from the University of Jos, vouched for Amupitan’s integrity and leadership style.
However, the session briefly turned tense when Senate President Akpabio tried to stop lawmakers from grilling the nominee on sensitive electoral technology issues, including the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. Senators, including Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), resisted the move, insisting Amupitan must respond to all pending questions before confirmation.
In his response, Amupitan, a professor of law, assured senators of his readiness to strengthen electoral transparency, vowing that no eligible Nigerian would be left out of future elections — even if it means deploying drones to remote locations.
“No voter will be disenfranchised. We will invest in logistics and technology. Where necessary, drones will be used to deliver materials to hard-to-reach areas. Every eligible Nigerian must be able to vote,” he declared.
He further pledged to promote civic education, transparency, and fiscal responsibility within INEC.
“When people understand the process, they are less likely to be manipulated. Our goal is to build an informed electorate that participates fully and freely,” he said.
Amupitan also promised to collaborate with the National Assembly on establishing an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure accountability for electoral crimes.
“INEC will be fiscally responsible. Every kobo will be accounted for in line with existing financial laws,” he affirmed.
Professor Amupitan’s emergence comes at a critical time in Nigeria’s electoral evolution, with INEC facing public scrutiny over its handling of the 2023 general elections and growing calls for deep reforms in election technology and logistics. Civil society coalitions such as the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) have already cautioned that his leadership must be marked by “institutional independence and demonstrable commitment to transparency.”
Nigeria’s electoral commission has, since 1999, undergone multiple reforms under successive chairmen — from the late Abel Guobadia and Maurice Iwu to Attahiru Jega and Mahmood Yakubu. Analysts say Amupitan’s tenure will likely define the next phase of Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, particularly in the areas of digital voting, diaspora participation, and electoral accountability.
As the nation looks ahead to upcoming off-cycle elections, attention now turns to how the new INEC chairman will balance political expectations with the imperative of restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.