JUST-IN: New INEC Chair Amupitan Arrives State House For Swearing-in

The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of his official swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday morning.

Amupitan, who appeared at the State House dressed in a pristine white agbada and gold cap, exchanged pleasantries with aides and guests before proceeding to the venue of the ceremony. The event is scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m., marking the formal commencement of his tenure as Nigeria’s chief electoral officer.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Council Chamber of the Villa, attended by governors and deputy governors from across the 36 states of the federation.

LEADERSHIP reports that Amupitan’s arrival for the ceremony came barely a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment following a rigorous screening exercise held on October 16. During the session, the 58-year-old Professor of Law faced extensive questioning from lawmakers on his vision for restoring credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process and implementing critical reforms within the Commission.

The new INEC boss was nominated by President Tinubu and subsequently endorsed by the National Council of State, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended recently. His appointment makes him the sixth substantive head of the electoral body since its establishment.

While addressing senators during his screening, Amupitan vowed to prioritise electoral reforms, emphasising the need for transparent polls and the restoration of public confidence in the nation’s democratic process.

“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,” he said.

The law professor also used the opportunity to dismiss reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, insisting that he remained neutral throughout the proceedings.

“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” Amupitan clarified, reaffirming his non-partisanship.

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

Amupitan has pledged to focus on strengthening the Electoral Act, addressing inconsistencies in election timelines, and enhancing the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic processes.

“My goal is to ensure that the Commission operates in a manner that inspires trust and guarantees that every vote counts,” he stated.