President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday swore in Professor Auwalu Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), charging him to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of the commission.
The swearing-in at the State House, Abuja, came exactly a week after the Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment following his screening on October 16.
Tinubu described the appointment of the professor of law as “a testament to his capacity and the confidence reposed in him by both the executive and legislative arms of government.”
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“As chairman of INEC, your nomination and confirmation mark the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding journey,” Tinubu said. “I trust that you will approach your responsibilities with integrity, dedication, and patriotism.”
The President emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy has evolved over the past 25 years through reforms and innovations that have strengthened its electoral system.
“To ensure our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach,” he said. “Our elections must be free, fair, and credible. All aspects of the process—from registration to voting and counting—should be transparent, non-violent, and credible.”
Tinubu urged Amupitan to prioritize public trust in the electoral process by addressing past challenges and introducing reforms that will ensure credible elections across the country.
During his Senate screening, Amupitan, aged 58, pledged to pursue electoral reforms that will restore credibility and inspire public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won fairly and well,’” he told lawmakers. “When that happens, voter confidence will naturally be restored.”
He also vowed to strengthen the Electoral Act to eliminate inconsistencies in election timelines and promote transparency in future polls.
Amupitan dismissed reports linking him to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court, clarifying that he had no role in any of the proceedings.
“I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” he said, stressing his neutrality.
Born April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan becomes the sixth substantive head of INEC since its establishment.
He is a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, where he also earned his LLB, LLM, and PhD. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
He specialises in Company Law, Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law, and currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC Chairman ended recently.
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