President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday officially swore in Professor Joash Amupitan SAN,as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, marking the beginning of a new leadership era for the electoral body.
The brief but symbolic ceremony took place at exactly 1:50 p.m. inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. It was attended by several top government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and key members of the Federal Executive Council.
In his remarks, President Tinubu urged Professor Amupitan to uphold the sanctity, transparency, and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. He emphasized that the credibility of elections is fundamental to the strength of democracy and called on the new chairman to consolidate on the gains achieved by his predecessors while introducing reforms that would strengthen electoral institutions.
“Professor Amupitan, this appointment is a call to national duty. The confidence of Nigerians in the electoral system must be restored and sustained. You are to ensure that every vote counts and every election reflects the true will of the people,” Tinubu said.
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The President also directed the commission to deepen the use of technology in elections, address concerns around logistics and voter confidence, and promote collaboration with political parties, civil society organizations, and the media.
Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and seasoned academic, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him. He vowed to strengthen the independence of INEC, enhance staff professionalism, and ensure that upcoming elections are conducted in line with international best practices.
“I accept this responsibility with deep humility and a commitment to fairness, transparency, and integrity,” he said. “Our democracy will only thrive when our elections are credible, and every citizen believes in the process.”
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who recently completed his tenure as INEC Chairman after overseeing two general elections in 2019 and 2023.
Before his appointment, Amupitan served as Dean of Law at the University of Jos and was widely regarded for his scholarship in constitutional and electoral law. He has also served as a legal consultant to several national and international organizations on governance and rule of law.
Political observers and civil society groups have welcomed his appointment, describing it as a chance to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s electoral process. The Transition Monitoring Group and Yiaga Africa, in separate statements, called for reforms in voter registration, result collation, and campaign financing.
INEC under Amupitan’s leadership is expected to oversee several off-cycle governorship elections and begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
With his appointment, Amupitan becomes the sixth substantive chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission since its establishment, following in the footsteps of Eyo Esua, Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Dr. Abel Guobadia, Professor Attahiru Jega, and Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Analysts say the task ahead is formidable, but the expectation is high that Amupitan’s academic depth, legal background, and integrity will drive a new era of electoral accountability and reform in Nigeria.
