Amupitan arrives Aso Rock for swearing-in as INEC chairman

The new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), arrives at the Council Chambers ahead of his swearing in by President Bola Tinubu

 

The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for his formal swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu.

Amupitan, dressed in a white agbada and gold cap, arrived at the State House on Thursday morning and exchanged pleasantries with dignitaries and onlookers ahead of the ceremony, according to a report by Channels Television.

The event, which will officially mark the beginning of his tenure as the nation’s chief electoral officer, is scheduled to be held at 1:00 p.m.

The law professor’s visit to the Villa comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman, following a rigorous screening on October 16.

 

During his appearance before lawmakers, the 58-year-old academic outlined his plans to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen institutional independence, and rebuild public trust in the commission.

“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,” Amupitan told the Senate.

He also pledged to focus on tightening the provisions of the Electoral Act to remove ambiguities in election timelines and enhance transparency in the process.

Amupitan, who was nominated by Tinubu and approved by the National Council of State, succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC Chairman recently ended.

His appointment makes him the sixth substantive head of the electoral body since its establishment.

Addressing questions about his alleged links to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, Amupitan firmly denied the claims.

“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he stated, stressing his neutrality and independence.

Following his swearing-in, the new INEC Chairman is expected to immediately assume office and commence the transition process at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.