The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Adebayo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a significant step on the road to 2027 elections.
Amupitan, a 58-year-old professor of law, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed by the National Council of State before facing a rigorous screening at the upper chamber. During the over two-hour session, senators questioned him on his plans to restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen key administrative and legal reforms within the commission.
He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, becoming the sixth substantive INEC Chairman. Addressing the Senate, Amupitan dismissed reports linking him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team during the 2023 presidential election petitions, insisting that official court documents confirm he was not involved.
ALSO READ: AI taking jobs: Nestlé to cut out 16,000 jobs partly due to automation
The new INEC boss pledged to improve logistics, safeguard sensitive materials through technology, and promote aggressive voter education. “My goal is to deliver elections where losers congratulate winners for the sake of our democracy,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced his confirmation after a unanimous voice vote, urging him to ensure that every vote counts as Nigeria continues on the road to 2027 elections.
Amupitan had earlier been cleared by the NSA, DSS, and the police ahead of his screening, reinforcing his readiness for the 2027 general elections.