Joash Amupitan INEC Chairman nomination submitted to Senate by Tinubu, sparking debate on electoral reform and neutrality ahead of 2027 polls

Joash Amupitan’s nomination has inec chairman has been formally submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the Nigerian Senate, setting the stage for a potentially contentious confirmation process.

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The President is urging lawmakers to give the appointment their “usual expeditious consideration.”

The letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, confirmed that Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) has been selected to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure at the helm of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently came to an end after a decade of leadership.

Amupitan’s nomination follows last week’s endorsement by the Council of State and was made under Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The President’s letter praised the nominee as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity” whose record of service, character, and experience made him the right choice to lead the nation’s electoral body.

The Senate President has referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration “as soon as practicable,” signalling the importance of the appointment to the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda.

However, the appointment of Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman has already triggered sharp responses from opposition parties and civil society groups.

Concerns are being raised about the independence and impartiality of INEC under a new leadership amid rising public distrust and the need for electoral reform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The confirmation hearings, expected in the coming days, will test the Senate’s stance on political neutrality and electoral credibility.

Critics argue that while Amupitan boasts a distinguished academic and legal background, he must demonstrate clear independence from the ruling establishment to restore faith in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

In a related development, President Tinubu also forwarded the nomination of Mrs Ayo Omidiran as Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, along with 28 other nominees for federal commissioner roles — including Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kwara State.

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The spotlight, however, remains firmly on Amupitan. His leadership of INEC will shape key reforms, influence electoral processes, and potentially define the integrity of future polls.