Tinubu Swears In Amupitan As INEC Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking the beginning of a new leadership era for Nigeria’s electoral body.

The ceremony took place on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, one week after the Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment on October 16, following a rigorous screening exercise.

In his address, President Tinubu charged the new INEC Chairman to “protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and the entire electoral process” while building on the institutional strength and independence of the commission.

Amupitan, who arrived at the State House in a white agbada and gold cap, was accompanied by presidential aides and several dignitaries. The professor of law’s nomination had earlier been endorsed by the National Council of State before Senate confirmation.

The 58-year-old legal scholar succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended, becoming the sixth substantive head of INEC since its establishment.

During his Senate screening, Amupitan outlined his plans to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s elections by strengthening the Electoral Act, harmonising election timelines, and improving transparency in result transmission.

He told lawmakers: “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.”

Addressing speculations linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria dismissed the claims, saying: “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”

Following his swearing-in, Professor Amupitan is expected to assume duties immediately at the INEC headquarters in Abuja and begin the transition process at the commission.