The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The confirmation of Prof. Amupitan who was earlier nominated by President Bola Tinubu follows a unanimous affirmative voice vote after he answered series of questions during screening by the lawmakers.
The voice vote was conducted by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The new INEC Chairman was accompanied to the Senate by the governor of Kogi State, Mr. Usman Ododo, some family members and dignitaries from his native Kogi State.
He was ushered into the Senate Chamber by the by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abubakar Lado at 12.52pm.
The new INEC boss was allowed into the hallowed chamber after the Majority Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele the Senate Leader, (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber, and the motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
The President of the Senate welcomed Prof Amupitan and his entourage after which the questions and answers session commenced.
After the opening remarks by the President of the Senate, the screening exercise commenced and focused largely used on the vision and strategy of of the new INEC towards regaining public confidence in the commission.
He answered questions on the use of technology to instil credibility on INEC processes as well as how to ensure that Nigerians accept election results with confidence.
Full details of the screening coming …
