Cynthia Ezegwu
President Bola Tinubu has charged the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, describing credible elections as the foundation of a stable democracy.
The President gave the charge on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, shortly after administering the oath of office to Amupitan, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate last week.
Tinubu said the appointment reflected the confidence reposed in the new INEC boss by both the executive and legislative arms of government, urging him to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and patriotism in the discharge of his duties.
“I, therefore, urge you, Professor Amupitan, as you take on this assignment, to protect the integrity of our elections and the institutional capacity of INEC. I wish you success on your first assignment in November 2025, which is the governorship election in Anambra State,” Tinubu said.
He noted that Amupitan’s nomination and confirmation were a testament to his competence and credibility, adding that the task ahead would be challenging but rewarding.
“This marks the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I trust that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest level of integrity, dedication, and patriotism,” he stated.
The President emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy, sustained since 1999, had evolved through reforms, innovation, and lessons learned from past electoral experiences.
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“Our democracy has come a long way. We have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral process must be beyond reproach,” Tinubu said.
While acknowledging that no electoral system is flawless, Tinubu stressed that credibility and transparency at all stages—registration, campaigning, voting, and results collation—were vital to sustaining public confidence.
“Elections safeguard the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future. We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow,” he added.
The President urged Amupitan to prioritise transparency, inclusivity, and non-violence in future elections as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.