By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
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).
The announcement was made public through a circular issued by the Director of Information of the Senate, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and shared with journalists in Abuja.
This development comes less than 24 hours after Tinubu’s letter requesting Amupitan’s confirmation was read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
According to the circular, the screening will take place at the Senate Chamber in the National Assembly Complex.
The statement read, “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, which received the endorsement of the National Council of State last week, signals a significant change for the electoral body following the departure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC chairman for ten years.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu explained that the appointment follows Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and urged lawmakers to grant it their “usual expeditious consideration.”
“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,” the President said.
The nomination has reignited discussions about INEC’s independence and credibility in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections. While the presidency has described Amupitan as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” opposition parties and civil society groups are calling on the Senate to conduct a transparent and thorough confirmation process.
The upcoming screening is expected to attract nationwide attention, as it could influence the direction of future electoral reforms and serve as a test of the administration’s commitment to credible elections ahead of 2027.