The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has pledged to confront electoral fraud and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process through sweeping reforms.
Amupitan, a respected constitutional law expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made the commitment during his confirmation screening at the Senate on Thursday, where lawmakers subjected him to hours of intense questioning on the credibility of past elections and the integrity of the Commission.
He told the senators that his administration would focus on strengthening internal accountability mechanisms, introducing a whistle-blower policy, and pushing for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure that electoral crimes no longer go unpunished.
“I am taking this position on trust, and those who will work with me must also recognise that they are holding the trust of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said. “We will follow through on all reported cases to ensure accountability. Electoral offences must carry consequences.”
To strengthen integrity within the electoral system, he announced plans to create an Ethics and Compliance Committee in INEC to monitor the conduct of officials and audit cases of misconduct.
Amupitan acknowledged that previous elections had been marred by irregularities and lapses that eroded public trust, noting that it was time to confront those weaknesses head-on.
“The current system lacks sufficient capacity to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes,” he said. “We need a dedicated institution to handle this task effectively. INEC will collaborate with the National Assembly to make that happen.”
The nominee outlined a reform agenda that includes reviewing INEC’s technological infrastructure, especially the electronic collation and transmission of results, which have generated controversy in past elections.
He promised that the Commission would adopt technology only where it enhances transparency and efficiency.
Amupitan also pledged to improve election logistics and security by working closely with the Joint Committee on Election Security, saying innovative solutions such as drones and digital monitoring tools could be deployed to protect sensitive materials and personnel.
“No voter will be left behind. That will be our guiding principle,” he assured.
On the issue of conflicting provisions in the Electoral Act, the new INEC chairman promised to work with lawmakers to harmonise the law and streamline timelines to reduce post-election disputes.
“A clear and consistent electoral timetable will help build public confidence,” he said. “Our goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will accept the result.”
Amupitan also vowed to strengthen voter and civic education to promote participation and understanding of democratic rights.
According to him, democracy thrives when citizens are informed and engaged.
He further pledged financial discipline in managing INEC’s resources, assuring senators that every allocation would be used strictly for its intended purpose in compliance with procurement and finance laws.
“INEC funds will be used only for the purposes for which they are appropriated,” he said. “We will explore ways to reduce costs without compromising efficiency.”
*Senate demands credible, transparent elections
After his presentation, the Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment following a voice vote.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, said the upper chamber expected Amupitan to lead by example and deliver credible elections that reflect the will of the people.
“We have confirmed you with confidence, but Nigerians will judge you by your results,” Akpabio told him. “INEC must regain public trust under your watch.”
Amupitan, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, has over three decades of academic and professional experience and has served as a consultant to several national and international bodies, including the National Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
With his confirmation, expectations are high that his tenure will mark a decisive step toward cleaning up Nigeria’s electoral system and restoring faith in the ballot.
