…Denies Tinubu Legal Team Allegation, Promises Transparent, Tech-Driven Elections
The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has vowed to prosecute any electoral official found guilty of malpractice, warning that under his leadership, the era of impunity within the Commission is over.
Amupitan, who was screened and confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, said INEC under his watch would deploy forensic tools to detect, investigate, and punish compromised staff, while setting up an Ethics and Compliance Committee to audit cases of misconduct.
“There have been numerous reports of electoral malpractice in the past, some never properly addressed. We intend to follow through on such cases and ensure accountability,” Amupitan said during his screening.
The law professor from the University of Jos also denied allegations that he was part of President Bola Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 election petition tribunal, describing such claims as “false and politically motivated.”
He disclosed plans to introduce a whistleblower policy within INEC to encourage staff and citizens to report wrongdoing without fear of reprisal, while calling for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to effectively prosecute electoral crimes.
Amupitan emphasized that his leadership would be anchored on integrity, transparency, and efficiency, pledging to restore Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral system.
“Our ultimate goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will congratulate the winner,” he said.
On electoral reforms, he promised to work with the National Assembly to harmonize inconsistencies in the Electoral Act, streamline timelines, and clarify provisions on real-time transmission of results. He also hinted that INEC would leverage technology including drones to strengthen election logistics and security.
The Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, unanimously confirmed Amupitan after security agencies cleared him of any concerns. Akpabio commended his “intimidating résumé” and expressed optimism that his appointment would “enhance transparency and ensure that every vote counts.”
The Senate President also urged the new INEC boss to prioritize credible local government elections and financial accountability, stressing that “electoral independence must go hand in hand with administrative and financial independence.”
Amupitan’s reform agenda, as outlined before the lawmakers, includes strengthening civic and voter education, introducing digital training for electoral staff and citizens, and fostering collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve voter data integrity.
“We will ensure that INEC’s funds are used strictly for their intended purposes, with full compliance to the Procurement and Finance Acts,” Amupitan assured.
With Senate confirmation now complete, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the new INEC chairman can deliver on his pledge to clean up Nigeria’s electoral system and rebuild public trust in the Commission.
