Barring any last-minute changes, the Senate will on Wednesday screen and confirm Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This follows a request from President Bola Tinubu, who on Tuesday transmitted a letter to the Senate seeking legislative approval for Amupitan’s appointment.

The letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, urged the Senate to consider and confirm the nomination “in its usual expeditious manner.”

President Tinubu’s letter partly reads, “Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission. 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.”

The Council of State had last week approved Amupitan’s appointment to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose two-term tenure as INEC chairman had elapsed.

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

The screening exercise is expected to take place on Wednesday and will be broadcast live during the Senate’s plenary session. (The Nation)