Just In: "Why I Picked Amupitan as INEC Chair", Tinubu Breaks Silence
- President Bola Tinubu has opened up on why he nominated Professor Joash Amupitan as the next chairman of INEC
- The president's position was contained in a statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the nomination of Amupitan
- Tinubu presented Amupitan to the Council of State as his nominee for the position during the meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday, October 9
President Bola Tinubu has explained the reason he opted for Professor Joash Amupitan to become the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The president, while speaking at the Council of State meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday, October 9, explained that Amupitan has an impeccable record of service, apolitical stance and integrity.
Source: Twitter
This was disclosed in a statement by the president's special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to him, Tinubu told the council that "Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.”
INEC chairman: Council of State endorses Tinubu's nominee
According to the statement, the council unanimously endorsed Amupitan's nomination. If approved by the Senate, Amupitan will succeed Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the chairman of INEC for a decade and concluded his tenure on Tuesday, October 7.
The council members, which included former and serving leaders of the country, supported the nomination of Amupitan, saying he has proven integrity. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi has hailed the nomination of the 58-year-old professor as INEC chairman.
Following the approval by the council, President Tinubu will forward the name of the professor to the Senate for screening and confirmation as stipulated in the constitution.
Nigerians react as Tinubu nominates INEC chairman
However, some Nigerians have started expressing their views about the nomination. Below are some of their reactions:
Bisi Adeyemi congratulate Amupitan:
"Congratulations to Prof Ojo Amupitan for clinching the position of INEC chairman. I commend the President for being able to find such an eminently qualified person in all ramifications to fill the vacant position. Congratulations to Nigerians. It can only get better for Nigeria."
Source: Twitter
Felix wrote:
"Everything is wrong in Nigeria, from the constitution down to leadership. A sitting president shouldn’t have the sole power to nominate an electoral body like INEC. Until that constitution is changed, Nigeria can never get leadership right."
Emmanuel Ndiokwere commented:
"Question: Why did the discourse on the appointment of INEC come up just now? The present Constitution has been in operation since 1999, and no one has found it necessary to amend it until it came to Bola's turn. Was it Bola that appointed Jakubu when he won in 2023? Please stop the hate."
Olabisi Danial tweeted:
"Today, cry go too much for obidant and Atikulate oh because my president your president as nominate INEC chairman the way others past president does it let reform begin."
See the full statement here:
Nigerians' reaction to Tinubu's nomination of Amupitan
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu nominated Professor Joash Amupitan, from the University of Jos, for the position of the new INEC chairman.
The nominee was subsequently approved by the Council of State, which met at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday, October 7.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
