Newly confirmed INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has pledged to deliver elections so transparent and credible that even losing candidates will willingly congratulate the winners.
Speaking during his Senate screening and confirmation on Thursday, Amupitan said his mission is to rebuild public trust in the electoral process through collaboration with key institutions like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“Our goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will congratulate the winner in good faith, just as both sides accept a fair court judgment,” he told lawmakers.
The Senate unanimously approved his appointment after a three-hour screening session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio charged him to ensure that every vote counts, noting that his confirmation marks a new chapter after Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s 10-year tenure.
Amupitan promised to audit INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to correct the glitches that eroded confidence in the 2023 elections. He also vowed to strengthen accountability within the commission through an Ethics and Compliance Committee and a whistleblower policy.
He further said INEC will work with security agencies and invest in technology, including drones, to safeguard election materials and logistics.
“This is a sacred trust,” Amupitan said. “We will make our elections so credible that even those who lose will admit it was fair and just.”
