President Bola Tinubu on Thursday formally swore in Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling on him to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The ceremony, held at the State House Council Chamber, marked the official start of what Tinubu described as a “challenging yet rewarding journey” for the new INEC boss, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate on October 16.
Addressing Amupitan, the President emphasised that the credibility of elections is vital to Nigeria’s democratic development.
“Our democracy has grown over the past 25 years, but for it to flourish further, the integrity of our electoral process must be beyond reproach,” Tinubu said.
Highlighting the upcoming Anambra governorship election on November 8, 2025, the President described it as an early test of Amupitan’s leadership and called for elections that are free, fair, and transparent.
He also urged continuous reforms and innovations within the commission to strengthen transparency, accountability, and non-violence at all stages of the electoral process, from voter registration to the announcement of results.
Following the swearing-in, Amupitan visited the INEC headquarters in Abuja to formally assume office.
..
The 58-year-old legal luminary succeeded Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure concluded earlier this year.
During his Senate screening, Amupitan pledged to implement reforms aimed at enhancing INEC’s independence, rebuilding public trust, and improving the overall credibility of elections in Nigeria.
Observers said Amupitan’s tenure would be closely watched, particularly in light of Nigeria’s political complexities, with many seeing the forthcoming Anambra election as a critical measure of his ability to maintain impartiality and uphold democratic standards.
