The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections, declaring that there will be no form of manipulation or rigging under his watch.
Speaking during his first official address in Abuja, Prof Amupitan assured Nigerians that the commission is fully committed to conducting free, fair, and credible elections across the country.
He stated that INEC’s responsibility to the people is clear and non-negotiable.
“We should not compromise our values or processes that could have consequences. So the integrity of our elections is not even something we should negotiate, please,” he said.
Prof Amupitan, who was sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 23, 2025, emphasized that his administration will focus on transparency and accountability within the commission.
“As I was leaving the State House, the first question that was asked was, OK, what do you want to do now, Anambra? I refused to talk about Anambra. Until I’ve come to meet with the staff,” he added.
He further revealed that President Tinubu had charged the commission to ensure credible polls, especially as the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, approaches.
“Mr. President, in his remark, also echoed the same, that we should do everything possible as we go into an Anambra election to give this country a fair, free, and credible election,” he said.
The INEC boss also assured staff members of improved welfare under his leadership. “For me, staff welfare is going to be my priority. I can see the echoes. It is going to be a priority because we are going to be expecting so much from you,” he told senior INEC officials during his maiden meeting.
Before his appointment, Prof Amupitan had during his Senate screening on October 16, 2025, pledged to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He stated that elections under his leadership would be so credible that even losing candidates would have no choice but to congratulate the winners.
The INEC Boss also disclosed plans to review and upgrade the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to address technical issues that affected past elections.
A distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who led the electoral body for ten years. He described his appointment as a divine call to service and called for cooperation from political parties, civil society groups, and the media to strengthen democracy.
President Tinubu, while swearing him in, urged the new chairman to protect the sanctity of the ballot and ensure continuous improvement in electoral management to build citizens’ trust.
The upcoming Anambra election will be the first major test of Prof Amupitan’s leadership. Nigerians are now watching closely to see if his promise of “no election rigging under my watch” will set a new tone for the country’s democratic journey.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
