The Senate on Thursday commenced the screening of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), the nominee of President Bola Tinubu for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amupitan was ushered into the red chamber at exactly 12:50 p.m., following a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), to set aside Order 12 to allow “strangers” into the chamber. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Before the screening began, Senate President Godswill Akpabio informed the lawmakers that the nominee had undergone thorough vetting by security agencies. According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police had all cleared Amupitan after conducting detailed background and fingerprint checks.
“The reports show he has no criminal records,” Akpabio told the senators.
Amupitan then proceeded to present his credentials and professional background to the chamber ahead of a question-and-answer session.
His screening followed a formal request from President Tinubu on Tuesday, seeking the Senate’s expeditious confirmation of the nominee’s appointment.
In the letter read by the Senate President during plenary, Tinubu stated:
“In accordance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (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 (INEC).
“Attached is his curriculum vitae, while hoping that the Senate will consider and confirm the appointment of the nominee in its usual expeditious manner.”
The Senate has since referred the President’s request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate legislative action.
