The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has described the Senate’s confirmation of Joash Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as nothing more than a formality.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Abdullahi argued that the pattern of approvals by the 10th Senate suggests that “whatever the President wants, the President gets.”
“With all due respect to the National Assembly, experience has shown that this Senate in particular ensures that whatever the President desires, he receives,” Abdullahi said. “So, Amupitan’s screening was simply a formality because it is required by law. There was never any chance of him being rejected for any reason whatsoever.”
He added that while the ADC is prepared to give the new INEC Chairman a fair opportunity to fulfil his promises, Nigeria’s electoral problems stem mainly from the “human factor” rather than a lack of infrastructure or technology.
The Senate recently confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman following his screening last Thursday. Senators questioned him for over two hours on how he intends to restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and implement genuine reforms within the commission.