Now that Amupitan has been confirmed by the Senate as INEC Chairman

Last Thursday, the National Assembly of Nigeria, through the Senate, confirmed the nomination of Prof Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amupitan’s nomination was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Senate.
Earlier, before his screening,there were opposition and criticisms against Amupitan’s nomination and confirmation. He was accused of being a member of President Bola Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 litigation against the President’s election at the tribunal up to the Supreme Court. Opposition parties raised issues of possible bias in the discharge of his duties as INEC Chairman. They accused him of being vulnerable to the manipulations of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
But, during the screening exercise, it was discovered that Amupitan was never a member of President Tinubu’s legal team in respect of the 2023 presidential elections. This simply means that the allegations of possible bias against Amupitan by the opposition was a hogwash. It lacked substance.
Amupitan, himself, told the Senate, during his screening exercise that he was never a member of President Tinubu’s legal team. Nobody – not even the opposition lawmakers in the Senate challenged or controverted this assertion. In law,an assertion unchallenged is deemed correct.
Nigerian Horn is pleased that the hullabaloo about Amupitan’s nomination and confirmation has finally been settled. Facts emerging from the Senate affirm that he has a clean and incontestable record of service as a legal practitioner and has risen to the zenith of the profession – a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
As he settles down to his duties as Nigeria’s Chief Electoral Officer, Amupitan is expected to deliver according to expectations. His curriculum vitae speaks volumes of his credibility and capacity.
It is the position of Nigerian Horn that Amupitan be supported to deliver on his mandate. He is clean for the job, and Nigerians can not afford to take excuses.
The beauty of Amupitan’s appointment is that he is not new to Nigeria’s electoral system and laws. Anything other than a remarkable improvement in Nigeria’s electoral system will,therefore, be unacceptable.
Congratulations to Prof Joash Amupitan, the new Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).