The Nigerian Senate has officially begun the screening process for Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, nominated for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted Amupitan’s name to the Senate on Tuesday for consideration and confirmation.
Before the screening commenced, the Senate suspended its standing rules to allow the nominee and members of his entourage into the chamber.
Among those present were Senator Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters; Professor Tanko Ishaya, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos; Mrs. Amupitan, the nominee’s wife; and their three children — Barrister Favour, Marvelous, and Beloved Amupitan.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio invited the nominee to address the chamber and offered him the option to sit or request water if needed during the proceedings. Lightening the mood, Akpabio joked, “We don’t want any incident here. Our hospital is not ready yet.”
In his remarks, Professor Amupitan shared that his life has been shaped by three key influences: his faith in God, dedication to hard work, and the value of mentorship.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Amupitan as New INEC Chairman
He also clarified that while he is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a Professor of Law, he is not the first from Kogi State to achieve these distinctions, as some have claimed.
