The newly sworn-in Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has officially assumed office at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Accompanied by his family and close associates, Amupitan becomes the sixth substantive chairman of the electoral body since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Earlier on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to the Law professor at the State House in Abuja, following his confirmation by the Senate on October 16 after a rigorous screening exercise.
During the swearing-in, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and charged Amupitan with the responsibility of safeguarding the credibility of the nation’s elections.
“As Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination and confirmation reflect confidence in your capacity by both the Executive and the Legislature. Our democracy has come a long way in 25 years. To keep it strong, we must ensure that our electoral process remains free, fair, and credible. I therefore charge you, Professor, to protect the integrity of our elections and strengthen INEC’s institutional framework,” Tinubu stated.
Dressed in a white agbada and gold cap, Amupitan arrived at the State House earlier in the day to warm greetings from officials and onlookers before the formal ceremony began.
Restoring Credibility to Elections
During his Senate screening, the 58-year-old professor faced extensive questioning from lawmakers on how he plans to rebuild confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and institute long-term reforms at INEC.
Amupitan, who was nominated by President Tinubu and endorsed by the National Council of State, succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria pledged to prioritize reforms that would guarantee transparent elections and restore public faith in the commission.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won fairly and well.’ When that happens, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored,” he said.
Addressing speculation about his political neutrality, Amupitan clarified that he had no involvement with President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court proceedings.
“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he told lawmakers, affirming his impartiality.
What you should know
Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and respected academic, has a long career in law and public service.
His appointment as INEC Chairman marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s democracy as the nation seeks to rebuild trust in its electoral process. Amupitan’s pledge to prioritize transparency, fairness, and institutional reform signals a potential shift in the commission’s approach.
With growing public scrutiny and expectations, his leadership will be tested in upcoming elections as he works to ensure that INEC delivers polls that are credible, inclusive, and free from controversy.
