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By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday charged the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to safeguard the credibility of the nation’s elections, describing free and fair polls as the foundation of any democracy.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after administering the oath of office to Amupitan, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate a week earlier, the President said the choice of the new electoral chief reflected the confidence of both the executive and legislative arms in his competence and integrity.
“I, therefore, urge you, Professor Amupitan, as you take on this assignment, to protect the integrity of our elections and the electoral process and the institutional capacity of INEC. I wish you success on your first assignment in November 2025, which is the governorship election of Anambra State,” Tinubu stated.
He continued, “As the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination and confirmation are a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you. This marks 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.”
Tinubu reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, noting that the country had made significant progress through electoral reforms, innovations, and lessons learned from previous challenges.
“Our democracy has come a long way. We have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach,” he said.
Acknowledging that no electoral system is perfect, Tinubu stressed that transparency and credibility at every stage from voter registration to campaigning, voting, and collation of results were essential to maintaining public trust.
“Elections safeguard the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future. We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow,” the President added.
He urged the new INEC boss to prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and the promotion of non-violence in all future elections.
Speaking to journalists after the swearing-in, Professor Amupitan pledged to uphold the Constitution and work closely with all stakeholders to deliver credible polls.
“I have just taken the oath of allegiance and the oath as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. I reaffirm my commitment to defend the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they relate to the electoral system,” Amupitan said.
“Like the President said, I have been given a clear charge to ensure credible, fair, and free elections, and that I will ensure,” he added.
He further pledged to strengthen collaboration with political parties, civil society organisations, and security agencies to deepen the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.