President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The brief ceremony took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where Amupitan took the oath of office at exactly 1:50 p.m.
In his address, President Tinubu charged the new INEC chairman to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and strengthen the institution’s capacity to deliver credible elections. He described Amupitan’s appointment and Senate confirmation as a mark of confidence in his competence, integrity, and patriotism.
“As the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination to this important role and the subsequent confirmation by the Senate is a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you by both the executive and the legislative arm of government,” Tinubu said.
The President reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the country had made significant progress in its 25 years of democratic governance. He emphasized the need for continued innovation and reform within the electoral system to maintain public trust.
“Our democracy has come a long way. In 25 years, we have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, through innovation and reforms. We must now remain committed to the principles that underpin democracy in a complex and multifaceted society,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that credible elections remain the foundation of democracy and urged the new INEC leadership to ensure transparency at every stage of the electoral process—from voter registration to vote counting. He highlighted that while no electoral system is flawless, it is essential to make the process robust, resilient, and resistant to manipulation.
“To maintain public trust in elections, electoral integrity must be protected. All aspects of the process, from registration to campaigning, voting and counting, should be transparent, non-violent, and credible. I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this important assignment, to protect the integrity of our elections and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC,” Tinubu said.
