Video: Tinubu swears in sixth INEC chairman, urges integrity ahead of Anambra election
Abdullateef Fowewe
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday has officially sworn in Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the sixth substantive chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the State House Council Chamber.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga noted that the President called on the new chairman to serve “with the highest level of integrity, dedication and patriotism.”
He said, “Your nomination and the subsequent confirmation by the Senate are a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you by both the executive and the legislative arms of government.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, President Tinubu stated, “Our democracy has come a long way in 25 years. We have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly in electoral systems, through innovations and reforms.”
He emphasised the crucial role of elections in democracy, “The electoral process is a vital part of a democracy that grants the people the exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral process must be beyond reproach.”
Highlighting the upcoming Anambra governorship election on November 8, 2025, as a key test, the President charged Amupitan: “I therefore charge you, Prof Amupitan, as you take on this important assignment to protect the integrity of our electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.”
Amupitan, 58, succeeds Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure ended this year. He has vowed to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, enhance institutional independence, and restore public confidence in INEC.
The new INEC Chairman will assume office immediately following his swearing-in and Senate confirmation on October 16.
