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The newly approved Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has arrived at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to be officially sworn in by President Bola Tinubu.
Amupitan, wearing a white agbada and a gold cap, reached the State House on Thursday morning, where he exchanged greetings with dignitaries and guests ahead of the ceremony, according to a report by Channels Television.
The ceremony, which formally marks the beginning of his tenure as the nation’s chief electoral officer, is scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m.
The law professor’s arrival at the Villa follows his confirmation by the Senate last week after an extensive screening exercise conducted on October 16.
During his screening, the 58-year-old academic outlined his agenda to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen the autonomy of the commission, and restore public confidence in the electoral 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,” Amupitan told the Senate.
He also pledged to focus on reviewing and strengthening the Electoral Act to eliminate grey areas in election procedures and promote greater transparency.
Amupitan, who was nominated by President Tinubu and confirmed by the National Council of State, replaces Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC Chairman recently concluded.
His appointment makes him the sixth substantive head of the electoral commission since it was established.
Responding to questions about his alleged association with President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court proceedings, Amupitan firmly denied the allegation.
“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he said, emphasising his impartiality and independence.
After his swearing-in, the new INEC Chairman is expected to assume office immediately and begin the handover process at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
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