Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for his formal swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu.
Clad in a white agbada and gold cap, Amupitan was received at the State House in the morning, exchanging pleasantries with dignitaries and guests ahead of the ceremony scheduled for 1:00 p.m., according to reports by Channels Television.
The swearing-in marks the official commencement of Amupitan’s tenure as Nigeria’s chief electoral officer, coming a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment following a thorough screening on October 16.
During his appearance before lawmakers, the 58-year-old law professor outlined his vision to reform the nation’s electoral process, strengthen institutional independence, and restore public confidence 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 senators during his confirmation hearing.
He also pledged to push for amendments to the Electoral Act to eliminate ambiguities in election timelines and enhance transparency in the process.
Nominated by President Tinubu and approved by the National Council of State, Amupitan 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 inception.
Addressing reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, Amupitan dismissed the claims, describing them as false.
“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he said, affirming his neutrality and commitment to fairness.
Following Thursday’s ceremony, the new INEC Chairman is expected to assume office immediately and begin the transition process at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.