President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s confirmation of Joash Amupitan as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The request was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which was read at Tuesday’s plenary session.

The appointment had been unanimously approved by the National Council of State on October 9. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, is set to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure at the commission has ended.

In the letter, President Tinubu noted that the confirmation follows the provisions of Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. He wrote:

“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Attached is his curriculum vitae, while hoping that the Senate will consider and confirm the appointment of the nominee in his usual expeditious manner. Please accept, distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative review.