A head of the screening of INEC Charman nominee Professor Josh Amupitan scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Senate Chamber, Senator Seriake Dickson representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District has expressed his total support him.
He disclosed this while speaking with the media in National Assembly, Abuja.
According to him, President Tinubu has made a very good choice and he will fully support confirmation of his appointment anytime the Senate screens him.
“I will be casting my vote, I will be supporting the nomination. And as a member of the Electoral Committee, and also a member of the Senate, I will work with colleagues to ensure that the electoral reforms we are championing see the light of day, and that Professor Amupitan is confirmed as Chairman of INEC.
He noted that after due inquiries, there was no evidence linking the nominee to the President’s legal team in the last election petitions.
“On the basis of the available evidence and facts, I will be voting to confirm or support the nomination of Professor Amupitan,” Dickson stated.
He clarified that the confusion stemmed from the similarity in names between Professor Amupitan of the University of Jos and Professor Osipitan of the University of Lagos, who had served on the President’s legal team.
“While requiring impartiality of nominees, we should look beyond professional engagements and focus on evidence of partisan or political involvement,” he said. “As lawyers, they are duty-bound to accept briefs without being tied to any political party.”
Senator Dickson commended the appointment of a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to head INEC for the first time in Nigeria’s history, describing it as a refreshing development.
“Being both a Professor and a Senior Advocate is significant. It gives the nominee a sense of responsibility to live up to his place in history and the judgment of posterity,” he added.
