The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has arrived at the State House, Abuja, for his official swearing-in ceremony by President Bola Tinubu.
Amupitan arrived at the Villa on Thursday morning, dressed in a white agbada and a gold cap, exchanging pleasantries with guests and officials ahead of the ceremony scheduled for 1:00 p.m. He was accompanied by some presidential aides.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima is presiding over a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Council Chamber, attended by governors and deputy governors from the 36 states of the federation.
Amupitan’s appearance at the Villa comes exactly one week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman following a rigorous screening exercise on October 16.
During his confirmation, the 58-year-old professor of Law pledged to restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process through credible reforms within 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 while addressing lawmakers.
Amupitan, nominated by President Tinubu and endorsed by the National Council of State, succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended. His confirmation makes him the sixth substantive head of the electoral body since its establishment.
He also clarified during his screening that he was not part of President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court proceedings, stressing his commitment to neutrality and fairness.
Following his swearing-in, Professor Amupitan is expected to assume duty immediately and begin the transition process at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
