President Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm Professor Joash Amupitan as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, read the letter of request on Tuesday during plenary alongside other communications to the Senate from the President for approval of appointments.
The President urged the lawmakers to give the appointment their “usual expeditious consideration.”
According to Tinubu, the nomination was made in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the letter read.
The President also enclosed the nominee’s curriculum vitae for review and concluded by extending his highest regards to the Senate President.
In response, the Senate President referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration “as soon as practicable.”
In a separate letter, Tinubu also sought Senate confirmation for the appointment of Mrs. Ayo Omidiran as the new Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission and 28 others as Federal Commissioners. Among them is Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kwara State.
Recall that the National Council of State had unanimously approved the appointment of Amupitan as the new INEC chairman.
The President also presented Amupitan’s name to the Council during its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. The appointment follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who completed his 10-year tenure in October 2025.
Tinubu told the council that Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law from Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central states to be nominated for the position.
“In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening,” a statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, read.
