“No Spouses Of Politicians In INEC!” – Oshiomhole Tells Amupitan During Senate Screening

Former Edo State Governor and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has advised the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, to avoid assigning sensitive positions within the commission to individuals who are spouses or close relations of active politicians.

According to Ireporter Online, Oshiomhole gave the advice during Amupitan’s screening session before the Senate, stressing that such appointments could compromise the credibility and neutrality of the nation’s electoral process.

He recalled a past incident in Edo State where a political party chairman’s wife allegedly held a key position in INEC, a situation he said created a serious conflict of interest. “The Senate President asked us to share from our experiences. In Edo, there was a time when the chairman of a political party—one that is practically collapsing now—had his wife as the head of the ICT department in INEC,” he narrated.

Oshiomhole alleged that the woman’s position in INEC gave the opposition party access to sensitive information that could be used to influence accreditation and voting processes. He emphasized that such conflicts erode public confidence in electoral institutions.

The senator urged Amupitan to implement strict policies that would bar spouses of politicians from being appointed to critical roles within INEC. “Will you be able, as you have assured us, to make a policy that prevents a spouse of a politician from occupying a sensitive position? INEC must not be turned into a family enterprise,” he said.