The Senate is set to screen Professor Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Senate’s Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The announcement comes barely 24 hours after Tinubu’s letter requesting Amupitan’s confirmation was read on the Senate floor by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
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According to the circular, the screening exercise will take place inside the Senate Chamber at the National Assembly Complex.
The statement reads, “The Office of the Secretary, Research and Information wishes to notify members of the Press and the general public that the Senate will on Thursday, 16th October, 2025, conduct the screening of the nominee of President Bola Tinubu, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, as INEC Chairman.
“The exercise is scheduled to hold at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex. Members of the Senate Press Corps are kindly requested to provide their usual media coverage and support to ensure adequate dissemination of information to the public.
“Similarly, television stations are expected to extend the usual courtesies of providing live coverage of the event.”
Amupitan’s nomination, endorsed by the National Council of State last week, signals a major transition for the electoral body following the exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu after a decade at the helm of INEC.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu stated that the appointment was made in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and urged lawmakers to consider it promptly.
“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Tinubu wrote.
Amupitan’s nomination comes amid renewed national discussions about INEC’s independence and integrity after the 2023 general elections.
While the presidency described him as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” opposition parties and civil society organizations have called for a transparent and thorough screening process.
Thursday’s session is expected to draw nationwide attention, as it could define the tone of future electoral reforms and test the Tinubu administration’s commitment to credible elections ahead of 2027.
