President Bola Tinubu has formally sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), issuing a direct charge to ensure the credibility of the nation’s elections, starting with the upcoming Anambra governorship poll.
During the oath-taking ceremony at the State House in Abuja, the President emphasized that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process must be “beyond reproach.”
He called for sustained reforms to address past challenges, stating, “It is important that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must continue improving our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today.”
The President identified the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election as an early test for the new INEC leadership, describing it as a benchmark for public confidence. He urged Professor Amupitan to “preserve the integrity of our elections and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC,” shielding its operations from “artificial setbacks.”
In his response, the newly inaugurated INEC Chairman pledged to uphold the constitution and execute his duties impartially. “I reaffirm the oath I just took, to defend the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they relate to the electoral process,” Amupitan stated.
He acknowledged the President’s “clear charge to ensure credible, fair, and free elections,” and committed to broad stakeholder engagement, noting that “no matter how high you set the bar, success depends on cooperation from all.”
The appointment and subsequent charge set the tone for the 2027 general elections, with civil society organizations already calling on the new INEC chairman to maintain and build upon the electoral reforms of his predecessor.
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