Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged the Nigerian Senate to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and rigorous screening process for Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, recently nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a joint statement released on Saturday by Yiaga Africa and co-signed by several democracy-focused organisations, the groups emphasised that despite the reported unanimous approval of Amupitan’s nomination by the Council of State, the Senate must still fulfil its constitutional duty of due diligence before confirmation.
The statement was endorsed by Yiaga Africa, Women Rights Advancement Protection Alternative (WRAPA), International Press Centre (IPC), The Kukah Centre, Centre for Media and Society, TAF Africa, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Nigeria Women Trust Fund, Accountability Lab Nigeria, and YERP Naija Campaign.
According to the CSOs, a “diligent, rigorous and transparent screening process” is essential to inspire public trust and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral institution. They urged the Senate to televise the screening and make it open to public participation through memoranda, petitions, and civil society input.
“The Senate must conduct a rigorous examination of the nominee’s competence, public records, and vision for electoral reform. Nigerians deserve a process that upholds transparency, accountability, and credibility,” the statement read.
The organisations also charged the Senate to scrutinise Amupitan’s plans for addressing systemic electoral challenges, including voter registration, result transmission, and enforcement of INEC’s regulations.
They reminded lawmakers of a “Framework for Citizens’ Engagement in the INEC Appointment Process” previously submitted by civil society organisations, which proposes measures to ensure openness and civic involvement in such confirmations.
While commending Amupitan’s academic and professional achievements, the CSOs maintained that Nigeria’s current electoral landscape demands an INEC leadership that is “fiercely independent, immune to political manipulation, and unwavering in its commitment to credible elections.”
“If confirmed, Professor Amupitan must demonstrate moral courage and resistance to political interference. The success of future elections depends on the independence and integrity of INEC’s leadership,” the statement added.
The coalition reiterated its long-standing call for an appointment process guided by the recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, the Ken Nnamani Committee, and other citizen-led reform efforts, stressing that only transparency and inclusivity can restore Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral system.
