Dare Babalola
President Bola Tinubu sworn-in Professor Joash Amupitan as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a significant development in Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
Amupitan’s swearing in by the President comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman following a rigorous screening session on October 16.
The president charged Prof. Amupitan to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.
Earlier, Amupitan arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for his formal swearing-in by President Tinubu dressed in a white agbada and gold cap.
The law professor’s visit to the Villa comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman, following a rigorous screening.
During his appearance before lawmakers, the 58-year-old academic outlined his plans to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen institutional independence, and rebuild public trust 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,” Amupitan told the Senate.
He also pledged to focus on tightening the provisions of the Electoral Act to remove ambiguities in election timelines and enhance transparency in the process.
