The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has pledged to restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process and deliver credible, free, and fair elections under his leadership.
Amupitan made the promise on Thursday in Abuja while addressing INEC staff shortly after being sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
He said his immediate focus would be on ensuring a transparent and credible Anambra State governorship election, which he described as the first major test of his tenure.
“One of the tasks before me is to restore electoral confidence in our people — to make them realise that their votes truly count,” Amupitan declared. “Let us uphold the values of democracy and work tirelessly for the credibility of all elections.”
The INEC boss urged staff members to uphold professionalism and integrity in discharging their duties, warning against any compromise of the Commission’s processes.
“We must not compromise our values and processes. There are consequences. The integrity of our elections is not something we should even negotiate,” he cautioned.
Amupitan also assured staff of improved welfare and better working conditions, describing his appointment as a “divine responsibility” that comes with enormous expectations.
“I assure you that we’ll work as seriously and tirelessly as possible to ensure that our working conditions are conducive and that our staff are given the necessary resources to excel,” he said.
He called for unity and collective effort within the Commission, stressing that the challenges ahead can be overcome through cooperation and dedication.
“The tasks may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” Amupitan concluded.
Prof. Amupitan succeeds Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman since 2015. His appointment comes amid growing calls for electoral reform and public demand for greater transparency in Nigeria’s electoral system.
