Oluwafunbi Bello 
ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu on Thursday officially swore in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The swearing-in marks the formal assumption of office by Amupitan as Nigeria’s chief electoral officer, following his confirmation by the Senate on October 16.
The 58-year-old law professor took the oath of office before senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, becoming the sixth substantive head of the Commission since its establishment.
Speaking shortly after taking the oath, Amupitan pledged to prioritise electoral transparency and citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“We must build an electoral system where even the loser acknowledges fairness,” he said. “That is the only way to restore voters’ trust.”
Amupitan also reaffirmed his neutrality, dismissing reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 election petitions.
“I never represented any party before the Tribunal or Supreme Court,” he clarified.
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