Cynthia Ezegwu
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking the official commencement of his tenure as the nation’s chief electoral officer.
Amupitan, who arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in a white agbada and gold cap, exchanged pleasantries with dignitaries and guests ahead of the ceremony. The event was held at the State House at 1:00 p.m.
His inauguration comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment following a rigorous screening on October 16. The law professor was nominated by President Tinubu and approved by the National Council of State, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.
During his screening, the 58-year-old academic outlined 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,” he told lawmakers.
He also pledged to tighten provisions of the Electoral Act to eliminate ambiguities in election timelines and enhance transparency in the process.
READ ALSO: Senate Confirms Amupitan As New INEC Chairman
Addressing reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, Amupitan denied any involvement, insisting on his neutrality.
“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he said.
Amupitan becomes the sixth substantive head of INEC since its establishment and is expected to immediately assume office and oversee the transition process at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.