President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a letter read during Tuesday’s plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the President said the nomination was made in accordance with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),

which empowers the President to appoint the Chairman and members of the Commission subject to Senate confirmation.

“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Attached is his curriculum vitae,” the letter read in part.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the Senate would consider and confirm the nominee “in its usual expeditious manner.”

Following the reading of the letter, the Senate referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration at a later date.

Professor Amupitan, a respected legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is expected to bring his experience in constitutional law and public service to bear on Nigeria’s electoral administration, pending confirmation by the Senate.