President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, was appointed by Tinubu after being unanimously approved by the National Council of State. If confirmed, he will succeed Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended recently.
Key Details:
– Nominee’s Background: Amupitan is a 58-year-old Professor of Law from Kogi State, with over three decades of academic and administrative experience.
– Academic Credentials: He holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees in Law from the University of Jos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.
– Previous Roles: Amupitan has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
– Request for Confirmation: President Tinubu’s request is in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates Senate confirmation for INEC chairperson appointments.
The Senate has referred Amupitan’s nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
