Presidency Tasks Amupitan on Courage, Integrity To Rebuild INEC’s Image

Presidency Tasks Amupitan On Courage, Integrity To Rebuild INEC’s Image

The Presidency has charged the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, to show courage, integrity, and independence in order to restore Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral system.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, gave the charge yesterday in Abuja in a statement titled “INEC Chairman: Making a Difference — A Choice Unanimous.”

Dare said the new appointment came at a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that public trust in INEC had weakened in recent years due to recurring lapses in election management.

He said Amupitan’s emergence, endorsed unanimously by the National Council of State on Thursday, reflected a rare national consensus across political and civic lines.

“For every democracy, the integrity of elections rests squarely on the shoulders of its electoral umpire,” Dare stated. “To safeguard our democracy, Nigeria must be led in this sphere by a man whose character commands trust, whose judgment inspires confidence, and whose conduct restores faith in the sanctity of the ballot.”

The presidential aide said President Tinubu’s choice of the Kogi-born professor was guided by merit, apolitical credentials, and his outstanding record in academia and public service.

According to him, Amupitan’s experience in corporate governance and law reform places him in a strong position to confront the institutional challenges that have eroded faith in INEC’s operations.

Dare also commended the President for maintaining regional balance by retaining the INEC chairmanship in the North-Central zone, stressing that no individual from the South-West had ever occupied the position.

“By choosing Professor Amupitan, President Tinubu reinforces his commitment to inclusiveness and national equity,” Dare said.

Before his appointment, Amupitan served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

Dare described his talk as both “critical and daunting,” urging him to confront head-on the issues of logistics, transparency, and political interference that have often tainted Nigeria’s electoral process.

He noted that restoring credibility to INEC would require not just administrative efficiency but also moral courage and institutional discipline.

“Nigeria’s electoral process remains burdened by lapses and mistrust. Technology must work seamlessly; officials must be above reproach; and every vote must count,” he warned.

The presidential aide further urged the Commission to prioritise voter education and youth participation, lamenting that only about 27 percent of registered voters took part in the 2023 general elections.

“Voter sensitisation must become a sustained national effort, not a seasonal ritual,” he added.

Dare, however, expressed confidence that Amupitan’s appointment signalled a new dawn for electoral governance in Nigeria.

“He has the opportunity to rebuild faith in the ballot, strengthen INEC’s independence, and set a new benchmark for future electoral leadership. To cement his legacy, he must be firm, fair, and fearless,” he said.