The newly confirmed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said that elections will be credible under his watch, with losers congratulating the winners.
Amupitan whose nomination for the top electoral job the Senate on Thursday, pledged to restore integrity and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
He said his goal is to make elections so transparent that “the loser will congratulate the winner.”
Speaking before his confirmation at the Senate Committee of the Whole yesterday, Amupitan outlined a comprehensive reform plan that includes setting up an internal ethical committee, introducing a whistleblower policy, enforcing accountability within the Commission, and deploying technology — including drones — to improve election logistics and security.
Expectedly, reactions have trailed Amupitan’s statements in the course of his screening.
Civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, West Africa), said time will prove whether or not Amupitan can ensure the electoral commission is truly independent.
Other organisations, like the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), urged him to be bold and not be swayed by the antics of the political class.
I will ensure trust, ethical conduct in INEC – Amupitan
Responding to lawmakers’ questions about corruption, electoral credibility, and logistics, Amupitan stressed that trust and ethical conduct would be the cornerstone of his leadership.
“I think that is a major concern. We will work out an internal mechanism to try the behaviour of humans,” he said.
“I’m taking this position on trust, and my people must appreciate that they hold their positions on trust as well. We will set up an ethical committee to review what happened because people have reported, and nothing was done. We will pursue every complaint and follow through.”
He further revealed plans to collaborate with the National Assembly on the proposed Electoral Offences Commission to ensure that electoral violations are appropriately investigated and sanctioned.
“We will work with the National Assembly because there will be a need for legislative intervention on an Electoral Offences Commission to investigate cases, even if we need to use forensic means to do that. We will introduce a whistleblowing policy to expose such practices,” Amupitan explained.
On the issue of election security, Amupitan said INEC under his leadership would take innovative steps to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, even in hard-to-reach areas.
“Security is a major challenge. We will work with the security committee to strengthen those areas. We will invest in logistics to ensure we penetrate all parts of Nigeria — even if we need to use drones. No voter will be left behind; that will be our policy,” he stated.
The law professor also emphasised the importance of voter and civic education in deepening democratic values.
“There’s going to be voter education and civic education. We will build the capacity of all election stakeholders and embark on aggressive civic education,” he said.
Addressing the contentious issue of real-time transmission of results, Amupitan said the matter required legislative clarity, noting that he would contribute his expertise to help strengthen the Electoral Act.
He further promised that election timelines and procedures would be streamlined to remove ambiguities and ensure credibility.
“The timeline issue will be streamlined, so there’s no ambiguity. We will ensure that elections are credible so the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won.’ We will also examine the security of election materials,” Amupitan pledged.
The INEC chairman nominee also vowed to uphold transparency in financial management within the commission.
“This Parliament has enough laws on procurement and management of public funds; they will be enforced strictly to utilise funds for their intended purposes. We can also save funds where possible,” Amupitan said.
Amupitan further pledged to conduct a comprehensive audit of the commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV) to identify and address the technical issues that undermined public confidence during the 2023 general elections.
He said the audit would help determine the nature of the glitches that affected the real-time transmission of results and assess the current capacity of INEC’s electoral technology systems.
“I have to audit the system, if I’m given the opportunity, to see what is actually wrong and whether we have what it takes, as it is now,” Amupitan said.
He explained that the IReV portal and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were introduced to enhance election transparency and integrity, noting that technical challenges experienced during the 2023 polls raised concerns about the system’s effectiveness.
Amupitan noted that while the IReV was designed as a safeguard for comparison and verification, it was never intended to replace manual collation of results.
He added that inadequate communication of this distinction contributed to the misunderstanding that trailed the use of the portal during the elections.
“The Supreme Court has clarified that IReV is not an electronic collation system. However, it was meant to provide checks and balances to enhance credibility. Unfortunately, this was not properly explained before the election,” he said.
He also stressed the need for collaboration among relevant agencies — including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and service providers — to improve the reliability of election technologies.
“It is not just INEC’s responsibility. Other institutions that support the process must also work together to ensure that Nigerians can trust the technology we deploy,” he added.
Beyond technology reforms, Amupitan assured lawmakers that he would strengthen INEC’s institutional independence in line with constitutional provisions.
He acknowledged that the commission’s autonomy has often been limited by delayed fund releases and a lack of clarity regarding its constitutional powers.
“Although the law provides that funds should be released a year before elections, in practice, this has not always been done on time. This creates financial constraints for the commission.
“We will look at the spirit and letter of the Constitution and the laws made by the National Assembly to ensure that INEC truly operates as an independent body. We shall audit the system and deal with any challenges accordingly,” he said.
Answering lawmakers’ questions during his screening for the position of INEC chairman at the Senate Committee on Thursday afternoon, Amupitan said the failure to assert INEC’s independence might be due to financial constraints and ignorance of the law.
He, therefore, said he will explore the law to ensure that INEC truly becomes autonomous.
I’ve never represented Tinubu, Atiku, Obi in court, confirms INEC chair says
Meanwhile, the confirmed INEC chairman, Amupitan, has denied the speculation that he was part of the legal team representing President Bola Tinubu at the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC).
Amupitan also said that he had never defended Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi, the two opposition presidential candidates that lost to Tinubu in the 2023 election.
During the screening, Amupitan said, “You also discussed whether I was part of the presidential election team. I have also read it.
“It is straightforward to answer. The Law reports on those cases have been out. And even when I was coming, I decided to have certified true copies of the counsel that appeared.
“I never, I did not appear in the presidential election tribunal and at the Supreme Court,” the 58-year-old Law professor said while responding to a question from the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Senate Confirms Amupitan As INEC Chairman
Meanwhile, after the screening, the Senate confirmed Amupitan appointment as INEC chairman.
The confirmation followed a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) for the Senate to consider President Bola Tinubu’s request for the confirmation of Prof. Amupitan’s nomination in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Time Will Prove Amupitan Right Or Wrong – Yiaga Africa, CDD, Others
Yiaga Africa has said the passage of time will prove whether the new INEC boss, Prof Amupitan, can ensure the electoral umpire is truly independent, as he has promised.
The executive director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, said the new INEC chairman’s first test will be in Anambra.
“Only time will tell. There are benchmarks we at Yiaga Africa will utilise in making that determination. Will he subject the backend of the BVAS/IReV to public scrutiny? Will he ensure there are no sacred cows in INEC, especially when compromised INEC staff undermine the process?
“Will the commission under his leadership resist pressures from politicians to use their companies or recommend others as INEC vendors. Will the actual results of elections be announced without influence from any external forces? His first test will be Anambra, and we will be watching closely.
For his part, the director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, West Africa), Dr Dauda Garuba, said the new INEC helmsman’s pledges were new but that living up to them was the matter.
“Every person who has occupied that position in Nigeria has pledged the same. I personally do not expect him to pledge anything different,” he stated.
For his part, Dr Christian Okeke, a lecturer in the department of political science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said Amupitan can make INEC truly independent if he decides to do so.
“Prof. Joash Amupitan can make INEC truly independent if he allows his conscience, constitution, patriotism and consideration for the people to always guide his decisions. INEC under him can become an institution of pride if the new chairman, unlike some of his predecessors, defects to the side of the people and national interest.
“Suspicion is that he will come under intense pressure from those who influenced his appointment to take sides with the government and political party that nominated him as a form of compensation and for higher rewards.
“However, if he remembers that history will judge him and decides to allow history to be fair to him, he will become hero of our democracy and the forerunner to our national salvation.”
Be bold, CISLAC tells new INEC chair
A civil society group, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has commended Amupitan for his pledging to “explore the Constitution to make the electoral umpire truly independent.”
CISLAC’s programme officer Gimba Suleiman stressed that true independence for INEC requires more than good intentions; it demands bold institutional reforms, political will, and a constitutional framework that guarantees operational autonomy.
He pointed out that despite longstanding rhetoric about INEC’s independence, the commission remains financially, administratively, and politically constrained by the executive arm responsible for appointing and funding it.
“For INEC to be genuinely independent, the organisation must have financial autonomy comparable to that of the National Assembly and Judiciary, with its budget charged directly to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, free from executive interference,” he said.
To this end, CISLAC issued key recommendations for the incoming INEC chairman: he should build bridges across political, judicial, security and civic institutions.
“CISLAC urges collaboration with the National Assembly to facilitate constitutional amendments, and with the Judiciary to ensure election petitions are resolved before swearing-in ceremonies.
“The centre warns that allowing candidates with unresolved election disputes to assume office undermines democratic legitimacy and public trust.
“To institutionalise citizen engagement: INEC must move beyond superficial consultations and genuinely incorporate the views of citizens, civil society, and marginalised groups. Election guidelines should reflect citizens’ realities and be applied fairly rather than selectively or punitively.”
CISLAC also urged INEC to work transparently with political actors at all levels.
“The chairman must maintain neutrality while engaging with all branches of government. INEC should not function as an extension of the executive or as a scapegoat for political failures but remain loyal only to the Constitution and the Nigerian people,” it said.
The new INEC boss was also advised to enact its guidelines into law to prevent selective enforcement of electoral regulations.
“CISLAC reiterates that INEC’s operational guidelines—particularly on result transmission, logistics, and technology use—must be enshrined in the Electoral Act. This legal backing will strengthen accountability and reduce ambiguity that allows manipulation,” he added.
CISLAC challenged Prof. Amupitan to confront entrenched interests that benefit from electoral weaknesses.
“Nigeria needs an INEC that inspires public confidence rather than one that routinely offers excuses after each election.
“True independence will only be achieved when INEC is empowered to act without fear, funded without favour, and accountable solely to the Constitution and the citizens it serves,” he said.
Electoral Reform Can’t Wait, GRACO Tells New INEC Chairman
The Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO) has congratulated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a critical national assignment at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The executive director of GRACO, Armsfree Ajanaku, commended Amupitan’s professional background as a legal scholar, respected academic, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stating that his credentials align with the constitutional requirement of “unquestionable integrity” and non-partisanship as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (Third Schedule, Part I(F), Section 14(1)).
Ajanaku applauded the National Council of State for adhering to the principle of regional neutrality in the appointment.
Given that President Tinubu is widely expected to contest the 2027 elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC), GRACO noted that appointing someone from a geopolitical zone different from the president helps safeguard public confidence in the electoral process.
