I Was Never Part Of Tinubu’s Legal Team — Amupitan

The nominee for the chairmanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has dismissed claims suggesting that helium was portion of President Bola Tinubu’s ineligible squad during the 2023 statesmanlike predetermination petition hearings.

Appearing earlier the Senate Committee of the Whole for his screening connected Thursday afternoon, Amupitan clarified that helium “never appeared successful the statesmanlike predetermination tribunal oregon astatine the Supreme Court” connected behalf of Tinubu aftermath of thr 2023 wide election.

“It is precise important to reply that question,” Amupitan said firmly.

“I ne'er appeared successful the statesmanlike predetermination tribunal astatine the Supreme Court. Mentorship volition not compromise my rule oregon my standard.”

The nominee’s effect came aft immoderate lawmakers raised concerns astir maintaining neutrality successful the look of wide speculation, linking him to Tinubu’s ineligible team.

Beyond addressing questions of neutrality, Amupitan utilized the league to stock his imaginativeness for an inclusive and forward-looking electoral system, 1 that empowers women, persons with disabilities, and young voters done education, technology, and legislative reforms.

“On the information of women and persons with disabilities, I judge the clip is close for that,” helium said.

“The policies and laws indispensable beryllium enactment unneurotic for that purpose. When we announcement necessities similar that, we volition necessitate legislative interventions truthful that they are encapsulated successful law. With NIMC and INEC moving together, we volition seizure that.”

The nominee besides spoke astir the wide debated contented of section authorities elections, suggesting that portion immoderate stakeholders advocator transferring the behaviour of the workout to INEC, specified a determination would necessitate cautious information to debar overburdening the commission.

“The behaviour of section authorities elections has been debated widely. The presumption of astir radical is that the powerfulness should beryllium handed to INEC due to the fact that of what has happened successful the section authorities and country councils. They already usage information compiled by INEC, but the question is whether that volition adhd different load connected INEC. We volition look into it, but I cannot supply an reply for now,” helium noted.

Amupitan outlined plans to fortify elector education, civic training, and technological integration arsenic portion of his broader betterment agenda.

He said INEC, nether his leadership, would make online grooming modules for voters and present civic acquisition astatine an aboriginal property to physique a civilization of antiauthoritarian participation.

“There is simply a request for elector education, and it is the mandate of INEC. We volition person basal courses and modules that volition beryllium downloaded by voters, on with capableness training,” Amupitan explained.