Tinubu swears in new INEC chairman

President Bola Tinubu swore in Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the State House Council Chambers, charging him to protect electoral integrity and strengthen the commission’s institutional capacity. Tinubu urged that Nigeria’s elections be “free, fair and credible,” calling for continuous improvement across the electoral cycle—from registration and campaigning to voting, counting and result transmission—and for alignment with international best practices to maintain public trust.

Amupitan, a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2014, pledged to engage stakeholders nationwide to ensure transparent, non‑violent elections. He said collaboration with political parties, civil society, security agencies and other actors will be essential to meeting INEC’s mandate: “I was given a clear charge to ensure credible, fair and free elections,” he said, adding that stakeholder engagement is vital to success.

His appointment followed unanimous approval by the National Council of State after President Tinubu’s nomination and subsequent Senate confirmation. Among Amupitan’s immediate responsibilities are overseeing the off‑cycle Anambra governorship election and preparation for the FCT Area Council elections early next year. Tinubu framed the role of INEC as central to democratic legitimacy, acknowledging no electoral system is flawless but urging the continuous strengthening of institutions to make them robust, resilient and resistant to artificial setbacks.

Amupitan’s legal practice focuses on company law, evidence, corporate governance and privatisation law; he hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. At the ceremony, senior officials including the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, leaders of both chambers, the Secretary to the Government and the Head of Service were present, alongside several ministers.

Civil society groups and political observers broadly welcomed the appointment while pressing for measurable reforms: early and transparent deployment of logistics, improved voter register management, credible technological measures for vote transmission and stronger anti‑violence strategies. Government officials emphasized that rebuilding public confidence will require not only institutional reforms but also demonstrable impartiality in conduct and timely, transparent communication of electoral processes and results.