Ensure Credible Elections, New National Electoral Chief Amupitan Urged

The recently nominated president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has been tasked with ensuring credible elections successful Nigeria.

Various stakeholders, including civilian nine organisations and governmental parties, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday, stated that Amupitan indispensable reconstruct electoral integrity to the nation’s governmental system.

While immoderate expressed cautious optimism regarding his impartiality, others voiced assurance successful his integrity and patriotism.

They besides urged the Senate to behaviour a thorough screening of the nominee earlier confirming him for the apical predetermination absorption role.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the National Council of State connected Thursday approved Amupitan’s information arsenic the adjacent INEC chairman.

President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan to capable the vacancy near by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served 2 five-year presumption from 2015 to October 2025.

According to statesmanlike spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu informed the Council that Amupitan is the archetypal idiosyncratic from Kogi State successful the North-Central portion to beryllium nominated for the position. He described the nominee arsenic apolitical.

Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan arsenic a antheral of integrity.

In enactment with the Constitution, President Tinubu volition present guardant Amupitan’s sanction to the Senate for screening.

How the New INEC Chairman Was Chosen

Speaking aft the Council of State meeting, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State told State House correspondents that the assignment followed owed law process and enjoyed afloat enactment from Council members.

“Among the salient decisions taken contiguous is the assignment of the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which is the work of Mr President, successful consultation with the National Council of State,” helium said.

The politician explained that President Tinubu recommended Professor Amupitan, a Professor of Law and adept successful the Law of Evidence from the University of Jos, Plateau State, to win Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended earlier this month.

“Mr President, successful enactment with statutory provisions, presented the sanction of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) to the Council. He is simply a highly respected scholar, a antheral of impeccable credentials and integrity, who has ne'er participated successful partisan politics,” Uzodinma stated.

He further noted that the President’s proposal was good received, arsenic talker aft talker praised Professor Amupitan’s competence, character, and nonrecreational way record.

“The Council unanimously approved and consented to his assignment aft an extended reappraisal of his qualifications,” Uzodinma added.

IBB, Abdulsalami Attend Virtually; OBJ, Jonathan, Gowon Absent

The National Council of State, established nether Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, serves arsenic an advisory assemblage to the President connected cardinal nationalist issues, including the assignment of the INEC chairman.

Thursday’s hybrid session, held successful the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, commenced astatine astir 1:30 p.m. and was attended by existent and erstwhile leaders, authorities governors, and elder authorities officials.

Among those physically contiguous were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

Several serving governors were besides successful attendance, including AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Alex Otti (Abia), among others.

Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were absent, portion erstwhile subject Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, joined the gathering virtually.

Also contiguous were erstwhile Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJNs) Muhammad Tanko, Mohammed Belgore, and Walter Onnoghen, on with the incumbent CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Yiaga Africa, Others Demand Integrity, Transparency, Courage from INEC Chairman Nominee

Yiaga Africa and different salient civilian nine organisations person called connected Professor Amupitan to grounds integrity, transparency, and courageousness successful the discharge of his duties—if confirmed by the Senate—to animate nationalist assurance successful the electoral process.

Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programmes astatine Yiaga Africa, told LEADERSHIP Friday that the adjacent INEC president indispensable beryllium non-partisan, courageous, and bold capable to defy governmental interference. She emphasised the request for experti...