President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging him to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen the institution’s capacity.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, a week after the Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment following his screening on October 16.
Addressing the new INEC boss, President Tinubu described his appointment as a testament to his competence and the confidence reposed in him by both the executive and legislative arms of government. He tasked Amupitan with upholding transparency, credibility, and patriotism in the discharge of his duties.
“The electoral process is a vital part of democracy, safeguarding the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future,” Tinubu said. “To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach. Our elections must be free, fair, and credible.”
The President further noted that Nigeria’s democracy has evolved over the past 25 years through innovation and reforms, adding that the new INEC leadership must build on these gains to sustain public trust.
Amupitan arrived at the State House in a white agbada paired with a gold cap, exchanging greetings with onlookers ahead of the ceremony. He was accompanied by some presidential aides and, shortly after being sworn in, proceeded to the INEC headquarters to formally assume duty as chairman.
During his Senate screening, the 58-year-old professor of law had pledged to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process and push for reforms that would ensure transparency and voter confidence. He promised to strengthen provisions of the Electoral Act to eliminate inconsistencies in election timelines and promote fair outcomes.
“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,” Amupitan had told lawmakers.
He also dismissed reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, clarifying that he did not represent any party in the matter.
Amupitan, a professor of law at the University of Jos, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He specialises in Company Law, Evidence Law, and Corporate Governance and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
Until his appointment, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.
He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC Chairman recently ended, becoming the sixth substantive head of the electoral body since its establishment.
