By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), becoming the sixth substantive INEC chairman since its establishment.
Amupitan took the oath of office at 1:50 p.m. at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, October 23.
Amupitan’s swearing in by President Tinubu comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC chairman following a rigorous screening session on October 16.
During the swearing in, Tinubu charged Amuputan to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.
The president added that Amupitan’s nomination and confirmation as the chairman of the country’s elector body spoke to his capacity and confidence reposed in him by both the executive and legislative arms of government.
Tinubu said: “As the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination to the important role and the subsequent confirmation by the Senate is a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you by both the executive and the legislative arm of government.
“The significant achievement marked the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I trust that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest level of integrity, dedication and patriotism.
“Our democracy has come a long way. In 25 years, we have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, through innovation and reforms. We have learned a great deal along the way, and have improved significantly from where we were many years ago.
“We must now remain committed to the principles that underpin democracy in a complex, multifaceted society.
“The electoral process is a vital part of a democracy, safeguarding the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach. It is important that our elections are free, fair and credible.
“We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow.
“To maintain public trust in elections, electoral integrity must be protected. All aspects of the process, from registration to campaigning, immediate access, voting and counting should be transparent, non-violent and be credible.
“No electoral system is flawless, but since elections are vital to a nation’s future, it is essential to continually strengthen electoral institutions, ensuring they are robust, resilient and safeguarded against official setbacks.
“I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this important assignment to protect the integrity of our elections and electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.”
During his screening at the Senate on October 16, the 58-year-old don was questioned by senators on his plans to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process and drive meaningful reforms within the commission.
In his response, Amupitan had promised to prioritise electoral reforms that would ensure transparent polls and boost public confidence in election outcomes.
