The President’s request was read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, along with other communications from the Presidency seeking legislative approval for several appointments.
Tinubu said the nomination of Amupitan was made in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), urging the lawmakers to give the appointment their “usual expeditious consideration.”
“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 Amupitan’s curriculum vitae and extended his “highest regards” to the Senate President.
In response, Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration “as soon as practicable.”
In a separate letter, President Tinubu also sought Senate confirmation for the appointment of Mrs. Ayo Omidiran as the new Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, alongside 28 others as Federal Commissioners, including Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kwara State.
It would be recalled that the National Council of State had earlier approved Amupitan’s appointment during a meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Thursday.
Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law from Kogi State, becomes the first person from the North-Central region to be nominated as INEC Chairman.
The appointment follows the completion of a 10-year tenure by Professor Mahmood Yakubu in October 2025.
