The newly sworn-in Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and discipline in the Commission’s operations, and tasked the commission’s staff to work as a united team to deliver free, fair, and credible elections in the country.
Giving his maiden address at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja shortly after formally taking over the leadership of the commission from the Acting Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the new INEC helmsman described his appointment as a divine call to national service”, stressing that the credibility of elections in the country during his tenureis not up for negotiation.
He said: “Our mandate is clear, to deliver free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people. To achieve this, we must work together as a team, leveraging our individual expertise and collective experience. The integrity of our elections is not something we should even negotiate. It is the soul of democracy.”
Amupitan, who was accompanied by the management of the University of Jos, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with a herculean but noble national assignment.
He noted that while the expectations of Nigerians were high, he was confident that with the cooperation and dedication of INEC staff nationwide, the Commission would deliver on its constitutional mandate.
Amupitan assured the commission’s staff that their welfare would be given top priority during his leadership since they represented the engine room of the Commission.
The new INEC boss clarified: “We are going to be expecting so much from you. And it is only fair that we also give so much to those from whom we expect much. Your welfare will be a priority. We will ensure that your working conditions are conducive and that you have the resources to excel.”
Making particularly reference to the upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled to be conducted on November 8, Amupitan described the election as a critical test of the Commission’s commitment to credible polls.
According to him, the Anambra election is not just another electoral exercise but an opportunity for the commission to show Nigerians and the world that INEC remains committed to free, fair, and credible elections.
He appealed to the staff to close ranks and maintain synergy across departments, saying that
“let’s restore the confidence of every voter that their vote counts. We must end voter apathy and rebuild trust in the process.”
Earlier, in her brief handover briefings, the Acting Chairman congratulated the new Chairman on his appointment and assured him of the full support of the commission’s staff.
Describing the day as a moment of continuity and renewal, Agbamuche-Mbu described the new Chairman as a man with distinguished record and expressed confidence that his tenure would build upon the strong institutional foundation laid by his predecessor.
She said: “You are not walking into an empty field. The Commission has been blessed with a team of dedicated and patriotic staff who will stand firmly with you as you lead INEC into its next chapter.”
Agbamuche-Mbu also noted that preparations for the Anambra election were already at an advanced stage, with four National Commissioners currently in the state for a readiness assessment visit to ensure logistics and personnel were fully in place.
In her closing remarks, she commended the INEC staff for their professionalism and expressed optimism that the Commission would “soar to greater heights and further strengthen the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy” during the tenure of the new chairman.
