The Senate will, today, screen President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan.
According to a notice by the Director of Information at the office of the Secretary, Research and Information, Bullah Bi-Allah, lawmakers will conduct the screening at the Senate chamber.With the belief that Amupitan will eventually clinch the position, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, advised him not to put his reputation on the line by failing to conduct credible elections for the country.
This was as a coalition of Northern youth groups and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) called on the Senate to expedite the confirmation of Amupitan.Meanwhile, INEC has explained that it invited the embattled National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, to its meeting with political parties based on a valid court order recognising him as the party’s leader.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and professor of Law, Amupitan, was nominated by the President, and the Council of State unanimously endorsed his appointment to lead the electoral body.He is widely regarded in legal and academic circles for his contributions to governance, judicial reforms and the development of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.Obi said the nominee, awaiting confirmation by the Senate, must strive to do the right thing throughout his tenure and leave a good legacy to avoid being remembered in the future for the wrong reasons.
The former governor of Anambra State, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, noted that Amupitan must remember that he would one day leave office and live with the consequences of his actions as the head of the electoral umpire.He stated: “It is for the good of everybody. None of us is going to be here forever, and none of us is going to be in his position forever. So, whatever position we find ourselves in, it’s to do the right thing. So I wish him well.”On the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi disagreed with the view that the ruling government was all about capturing the South-East, adding that Mbah probably acted on his personal “political decisions and calculations” before moving.
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The coalition also passed a confidence vote on Amupitan, describing him as a man of integrity and vast legal experience.Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Aliyu Mohammed commended Tinubu for nominating Amupitan and the National Council of State (NCS) for approving his appointment.He dismissed what he termed baseless and malicious claims, suggesting that Amupitan’s previous roles as lead counsel for various political parties should disqualify him from leading the electoral body.
He said: “We reject the baseless claims of disqualification raised by some individuals, citing his previous legitimate engagement as lead counsel for various political parties, including APC, PDP, LP and Social Democratic Party (SDP), in election petition tribunals at all levels. These claims are motivated by malice and lack merit.
“The Constitution of Nigeria does not disqualify individuals who have previously worked with political affiliates as clients from holding the position of INEC Chairman. In fact, his wealth of experience and expertise in law and governance make him an exemplary candidate for the position.”They called on the National Assembly to confirm Amupitan as INEC Chairman without further delay, assuring Nigerians that he would uphold fairness, justice and impartiality as enshrined in the Constitution.Acting Chairman of INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, made the clarification yesterday during INEC’s regular quarterly meeting with media executives in Abuja.
She said the decision followed a ruling by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, which directed the commission to recognise Abure as the National Chairman of LP.“As a law-abiding institution, INEC has always obeyed court orders. If the faction led by Lamidi Apapa or Usman Nevada presents a valid court judgment in their favour, the commission will also comply accordingly,” she stated.
Agbamuche-Mbu further reiterated the commission’s commitment to working with the media, civil society organisations (CSOs), political parties and other stakeholders to ensure a credible governorship election in Anambra.