President Bola Tinubu has sought the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of Joash Amupitan as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday.

The National Council of State had, on October 9, unanimously approved the appointment of Mr Amupitan as the new chairman of INEC.

Mr Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, replaces Mahmood Yakubu, who bowed out of the commission upon completion of his tenure.

The president, in the letter, said that the confirmation of the INEC chairman was in accordance with the provisions of section 154, subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“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,” he said.

Mr Akpabio, in his remark after the reading of the letter, referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative input.

(NAN)