President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging him to conduct credible, transparent elections across Nigeria.
The swearing-in took place on Thursday during an expanded meeting of the National Economic Council at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja.
Addressing the new INEC chairman, Tinubu said: “It is important that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow.”
He added: “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.
“No electoral system is flawless. But since elections are vital to a nation’s future, it is essential to continually strengthen electoral institutions, ensuring they are robust, resilient, and safeguarded against artificial setbacks.”
The President formally charged Amupitan “to take on this important assignment to protect the integrity of our elections and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.”
Amupitan’s appointment followed a nomination by President Tinubu and confirmation by the Senate.
According to reports, his nomination also received “unanimous approval by the National Council of State.”
He succeeded Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended in October, and had taken over officially from Acting Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Amupitan is a professor of law at the University of Jos and holds the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Shortly after his swearing-in, Prof. Amupitan formally assumed office at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
During a meeting with INEC directors and staff, he described his appointment as “a divine call to service.”
He said, “I am here for a purpose. Maybe if I had a choice, I would have said I would not come here. But from all indications, I can see that God is moving this country, and my coming is divine. With God saying go, who am I to say no? I am here because I have a role to play to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed.”
He also pledged to uphold integrity, discipline, and transparency at the commission, adding that staff welfare would be a priority.
He stated, “Our mandate is very clear. That is to deliver free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the people. The integrity of our elections is not negotiable. Every voter must feel confident that their vote counts.”
He noted that the upcoming Anambra governorship election would be a test of INEC’s credibility, adding, “together, let us uphold the values of democracy and work tirelessly for the credibility of our elections. The facts may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
“The eyes of the nation are upon us. We must rise to the occasion and demonstrate that we are capable of conducting elections that meet the expectations of Nigerians.”
He also appealed to INEC staff to work in unity, break silos within the organisation, and commit to improving democratic values through credible elections.
Prof. Amupitan immediately inherits responsibility for a number of critical upcoming polls, including the Anambra State governorship election in November 2025 and the FCT Area Council elections in February 2026.
President Tinubu was joined at the ceremony by high-ranking officials including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, among others.
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