iREV, 2023 glitches revisited, as Nigerian Senate confirms of Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTERS

“The Supreme Court came out to say that iREV was not an electronic collation system, and that position was not properly brought out before the election. The iREV was supposed to be a safeguard for comparison because the laws made by this Distinguished Senate did not do away with manual collation. However, iREV was supposed to provide some guarantees and checks and balances,” said Amupitan 

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the country’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This followed his screening by lawmakers, which lasted for two hours in the red chambers of the National Assembly, Abuja.

During the screening exercise, Amupitan responded to questions from senators regarding elections, administration, policy, and the amendment of the Electoral Act, among others.

He was ushered into the chambers alongside his family members and other personalities by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, and welcomed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after the Senate had suspended its standing rules to admit them.

Akpabio explained that the Senate had agreed to screen Amupitan because he had first been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), where his fingerprints were captured.

He said the new INEC chairman was cleared for Senate confirmation after security agencies confirmed that there was no criminal record against him.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Tuesday October 17, 2025 requested the Senate to confirm Amupitan as the new INEC chairman following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“In accordance with the provisions of Section 154, Subsection 1 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 (INEC),” Tinubu said.

Professor Amupitan, while responding to questions from the senators, said he would work for all Nigerians and make them proud by introducing new measures to restore their confidence in the electoral process.

He also said his leadership would ensure the integrity of elections and deliver credible results beginning with the Ekiti State governorship election slated for July 2026.

On the issue of glitches reportedly experienced during the electronic transmission of results in the 2023 presidential elections, Amupitan said his understanding of a glitch in that context was “improper configuration” of the technology used, adding that he would find a solution through a thorough audit.

He said his leadership would audit the existing technological infrastructure and forge partnerships with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other relevant bodies to deliver the expected results.

“The Supreme Court came out to say that iREV was not an electronic collation system, and that position was not properly brought out before the election. The iREV was supposed to be a safeguard for comparison because the laws made by this Distinguished Senate did not do away with manual collation. However, iREV was supposed to provide some guarantees and checks and balances,” he said.

“But going to the issue of glitches, which in simple terms I understand as improper configuration, especially during the presidential election, that eroded the confidence of so many people. Though, as His Excellency the Senate President said, I have to audit the system, if I am given the opportunity, to see what is actually wrong and whether we have what it takes as it is now, because it is not just INEC’s responsibility alone. We have other agencies like NCC, NIMC, and the service providers that will have to work together to ensure that we give Nigerians the technology that everybody will be happy about.

“There will definitely be an audit of the system we are meeting, and especially of the logistics of the election itself, to ensure that the proper strategy is put in place. We all know the problems, and we will find a proper strategy to confront them headlong.”

He also pledged to collaborate with the National Assembly to strengthen the electoral process, ensure the integrity of elections, and guarantee the judicious utilisation of funds allocated to INEC for the conduct of elections, among others.

On what he would do to address voter apathy in the country, Amupitan said, “What I believe is that we will do something that goes beyond what is being done presently by having what I will call modules of education for voters.

“We can have a basic course that can be downloaded in various languages, even on handsets. Then we will conduct various capacity trainings to educate voters and also to preach patriotism.

“So, we will even think of introducing voter education at the primary school level so that it will be part of the upbringing of a person, preaching patriotism and the need for participation.

“I want to look at a situation where we can even use technology to eliminate some of those circumstances that have been encountered in relation to voter registration. If we have supportive technology, we’ll be able to deal with that. But if there are no technologies for that, we can talk of decentralising,” he said.

The new INEC chairman said the 2022 Electoral Act was an improvement on previous versions and stressed the need for continuous collaboration in amending it. He also suggested the establishment of an institution to specifically deal with electoral offences in the country.

On fears that INEC officials related to political actors might favour them during elections, Amupitan said, “I want to say that, consistent with the principle of natural justice, where there is a likelihood of bias — not just bias itself — it can be flagged to INEC, and INEC will take appropriate decisions on that.”

On whether INEC should be responsible for conducting local government elections, the INEC helmsman said it would impose too much burden on the commission.

“But one of the concerns is, is it not going to add another burden on INEC? Because you are going to conduct elections into 774 local government areas, apart from what we already have now,” he said.

He noted, however, that the commission would look into the logistics and infrastructure required for such an expansion when he assumes office.

The Kogi-born professor of law also described the issue of INEC’s independence as a delicate one but added: “The constitution says that INEC must be independent. So, we will leverage that constitutional backing to ensure that we perform our responsibilities independently, and Nigeria will be proud of it.”

Amupitan also told the Senate that, contrary to claims by some persons, he never participated in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s defence at either the tribunal or the Supreme Court after the 2023 presidential election.

“I also read it. But the law reports on those cases are there. I didn’t appear in the presidential election at the tribunal or Supreme Court,” he said.

Meanwhile, before his confirmation, there was mild drama in the Senate chambers during the question-and-answer session.

Daily Trust reports that when Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) stood up to ask a question, Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South) interrupted, saying he had moved a motion for the conclusion of the screening.

Buba argued that Amupitan had answered questions for two hours and should be allowed to take a bow, but Umeh insisted on asking his questions.

Intervening, Akpabio explained to Umeh that the Senate is guided by rules and that if there was a motion, it must be seconded.

While Buba insisted he had instituted a motion, Umeh retorted, “You can’t do that.”

The issue dragged on, turning the screening exercise into a rowdy session. Umeh told Akpabio, “Don’t allow them to mess up the exercise,” but Akpabio insisted on a seconder to the motion.

After some minutes, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), seconded the motion moved by Senator Buba.

Akpabio subjected the motion to a voice vote, and senators voted to end the screening. Some senators who were yet to ask their questions were requested by the Senate President to submit them in writing.

Their questions were later read and handed over to Amupitan by Akpabio, after which he took a bow.

Reactions to Senate approval

Efforts to get the reaction of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, were not successful, as calls and text messages sent to him and his deputy, Ibrahim Abdullahi, were not replied to as of the time of filing this report. Also, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi could not be reached on phone. He was yet to reply to a WhatsApp message sent to him, a media report said.

However, a National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the party, Timothy Osadolor, told Daily Trust that the screening was more like a coronation, adding that the Senate had not shown that it could scrutinise nominations as expected.

He said, “I don’t think it was a screening exercise or a confirmation. It was more like a coronation ceremony. Because the senators and those who were supposed to do the screening, I wonder what they are going to screen when their lord has presented a candidate they cannot refuse.

“I wish the National Assembly would realise that they are not there to represent themselves. They are there to represent the interests of Nigerians who elected them and who want them to do thorough jobs and due diligence on all nominations, not only in the case of the INEC chairman but all federal appointments.

“At the end of the day, the bits and pieces of names sent to them form the general aggregate of the government and the Nigerian people in governance. Therefore, if due diligence is not done properly by the stakeholders or representatives of the people in the National Assembly, we will continue to have problems.”

He also referenced the case of the former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, saying, “A case in point is that of Uche Nnaji from Enugu State, who gave bogus results for both his university and NYSC. Assuming the National Assembly had done proper screening of those documents, I am sure the embarrassment that befell the government, the country, and even the man himself would have been avoided”.

He further charged the new INEC boss, saying, “He is not there to serve the powers that be. He is going to represent INEC, which will determine the fate of over 200 million Nigerians. Therefore, he should be guided by his conscience.

“His conscience should make him understand that whereas he may be among the privileged elite in this country, the vast majority of Nigerians are under the threat of insecurity, insurgency, robbery, kidnapping, and food insecurity.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on its part commended the Senate for performing its duty without delay.

In a telephone chat with Daily Trust last night, the APC National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, said, “The speed at which the Senate acted on the issue is commendable, and we believe the new INEC chairman will deliver on his mandate.”

Yiaga Africa also urged Amupitan to translate his promises into action, saying Nigerians expect visible reforms that would restore confidence in the nation’s electoral system.

In a telephone chat with Daily Trust last night, Coordinator of the Centre for Legislative Engagement at Yiaga Africa, Dr Sam Ogwuche, said, “The lawmakers did what is constitutionally required of them, and for the process to take up to two hours shows that they did a thorough job.

“The questions were vital, and the nominee’s responses, especially regarding the audit of past elections, were impressive. It was an excellent outing,” he said.

While describing the appointee as a seasoned legal practitioner and academic with a deep understanding of electoral challenges, Ogwuche said Nigerians are looking beyond rhetoric to tangible reforms.

“My advice to him is to put modalities in place to live up to his promises. The political space in Nigeria is complex, but I believe he can navigate it. He should study the process, learn from his predecessors where they excelled and where they failed, and fill in the gaps,” he said.

“He is sitting on a hot seat. Nigerians want to see a new INEC manned by someone who is experienced, transparent, and courageous. It is not a bed of roses; he will operate in a turbulent environment, but with his experience, he should be able to deliver,” he added.

Similarly, a public affairs analyst and senior lecturer in the Department of History at Sokoto State University, Dr Godwin Odeh, said the new INEC chairman must work hard to restore confidence in the electoral process.

“We are watching to see if he will live up to expectations. He should live by what he has said by restoring electoral integrity. He must restore people’s confidence in INEC,” he said.

He added that the peaceful confirmation of the INEC chairman was a sign that both the executive and the legislature were on the same page.

In a related development, the Senate, before the commencement of Amupitan’s screening, stepped down debate on the Electoral Bill 2025 to allow room for more consultations.

This was after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) rounded off his presentation on the general principles of the bill.

The 10th National Assembly had embarked on amending the Electoral Act 2022 following the gaps noticed during the 2023 general elections.

The media report said that the National Assembly Joint Committees on Electoral Matters, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), had on Monday organised a public hearing on the Electoral Bill 2025, during which stakeholders, including lawmakers, political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), and electoral experts, made far-reaching inputs.

But Senate President God’swill Akpabio, who presided over the session yesterday, said Lalong did not give sufficient details on the general principles of the bill and suggested an executive session to consider it.

A report by Daily Trust said that the stepping down of debate on the electoral bill also followed concerns raised by Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South) during plenary over procedural issues.

Describing it as strange, Senator Binos said Nigerians would wonder why a bill that was yet to scale second reading had already gone to the stage of public hearing.

“I support the second reading of this bill. But people will wonder. The second reading is supposed to come before the public hearing that was done last Monday. Holding a public hearing before second reading is confusing,” he said.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) also said the day was not auspicious for the Senate to go into an executive session and suggested that the bill be stepped down for another legislative day.

Senate President Akpabio thereafter put the matter to a voice vote, and senators approved its suspension.