I was never part of 2023 presidential election tribunal, new INEC chairman Amupitan provides evidence

The newly nominated chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan has denied claims that he participated in the 2023 presidential election tribunal that brought about the final victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s President Bola Tinubu.

He was confirmed as the new INEC chairman.

The confirmation followed the screening exercise in the committee of the whole where Senators grilled the nominee for three hours, asking him all questions possible undmbder the sun.

The erudite and learned academic provided answers to all the questions.

After the grilling was done in the Committee of the Whole, the Senate resolved back to plenary where the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, asked if the confirmation was a true reflection of the House, and the “ayes” response was overwhelmingly resounding.

Akpabio said he was approved without any dissenting voice, and he asked him to carry on his job where votes would count.

Recall there were insinuations that Amupitan worked as a member of the legal team that represented President Tinubu and the APC during the 2023 presidential election tribunal.

Amupitan said such claim is unfounded and without basis.

He also informed the leadership of the Nigerian Senate and its members that he appeared before it with the Certified True Copy of the legal appearances and representations at the said tribunal and the Supreme Court.

“When I was coming here, I bought the certified true copy of the legal appearances at the tribunal and the Supreme Court. I was not part of it. I never, I did not partake in it,” Amupitan said.

The new INEC Chairman appeared before the lawmakers following the approval of his nomination by the National Council of State.

On Thursday, his nomination was confirmed, giving him the responsibility of serving as the new INEC Chairman replacing Mahmood Yakubu who served from 2015 to October 2025.