INEC: Senate Begins Screening Of Chairman Nominee Amupitan

Senate begins screening of Tinubu’s INEC chairman nominee.
Akpabio confirms security agencies cleared Amupitan of any wrongdoing.
The Senate has referred the nomination for immediate legislative consideration.

The Senate on Thursday began the screening of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Amupitan was ushered into the red chamber at exactly 12:50 p.m. after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion to suspend Order 12 of the Senate Rules to allow “strangers” into the chamber. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).

Before the screening began, Senate President Godswill Akpabio informed lawmakers that Amupitan had been thoroughly vetted by security agencies. According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police had all cleared the nominee after conducting background checks and fingerprint searches.

“The reports show that he has no criminal record,” Akpabio told the lawmakers.

The nominee then presented his resume to the senators, outlining his qualifications and professional background before the question-and-answer session commenced.

Amupitan’s screening follows President Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate on Tuesday for swift consideration and confirmation of the appointment. In a letter read by Akpabio during plenary, Tinubu cited Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the basis for the nomination, expressing confidence in Amupitan’s capability to lead the nation’s electoral body.

The Senate has since referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate legislative action.