CSOs demand transparent Senate screening for INEC chair nominee, Amupitan

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on democracy and electoral reform has called on the Nigerian Senate to ensure a transparent and participatory confirmation process for Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), nominated by President Bola Tinubu as the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a joint statement released in Abuja, on Friday, the groups — including Yiaga Africa, WRAPA, the International Press Center, The Kukah Centre, and the Nigeria Women Trust Fund — acknowledged Amupitan’s professional achievements and expressed no objection in principle to his nomination.

However, they stressed that Nigeria’s democracy demands an “independent INEC immune to political manipulation” and urged the nominee to demonstrate moral courage and resistance to political pressure if confirmed.

The organisations reminded the public that the approval of the National Council of State does not replace the Senate’s constitutional duty to conduct rigorous and transparent screening that inspires public confidence.

They also emphasised the need for citizen and civil society engagement in the confirmation process.

Related News

They called on the Senate to conduct televised and inclusive hearings allowing public input through memoranda and petitions, examine Amupitan’s competence, public record, and vision for reforming INEC and question his strategies for addressing systemic challenges, including voter registration, result transmission, and enforcement of electoral guidelines.

The statement noted that Nigerians expect the confirmation process to align with the framework for citizens’ engagement in the INEC appointment process, previously submitted to the Senate.

The statement was jointly signed by Yiaga Africa, WRAPA, International Press Center, The Kukah Centre, Centre LSD, TAF Africa, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, Accountability Lab Nigeria, and YERP Naija Campaign.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.