President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), appeared before the Senate on Wednesday for screening.
Amupitan was ushered into the Senate Chamber at about 12:50 p.m. after a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) to suspend Order 12 and allow strangers into the chamber. The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Before the question-and-answer session began, Senate President Godswill Akpabio informed his colleagues that the nominee had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) following thorough vetting and fingerprint checks. Akpabio added that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the Inspector-General of Police had also cleared Amupitan, confirming that he has no criminal record.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is currently presenting his resume to the Senators.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Tinubu had written to the Senate seeking the screening and swift confirmation of Prof. Amupitan as INEC Chairman in line with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In the letter read by Akpabio, the President urged the Senate to give the nominee’s appointment expeditious consideration, attaching Amupitan’s curriculum vitae for review.
The Senate President has since referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action.
Details later…
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