The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expressed support for the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the position as critical for restoring public confidence in the electoral body.

The NNPP founder, Boniface Aniebonam, spoke on Sunday in Lagos against the backdrop of debates surrounding Amupitan’s nomination by President Bola Tinubu. The appointment, approved by the National Council of State on October 7, is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Aniebonam said the incoming INEC chairman faces a “huge task” of rebuilding the commission’s credibility. He urged Amupitan to hit the ground running and tackle longstanding challenges, including unresolved court judgments and internal lapses that, according to him, previous leadership overlooked.

“INEC’s image has suffered erosion over the years. The first responsibility of Professor Amupitan is to correct these wrongs and restore Nigerians’ trust in the commission,” Aniebonam said.

He added that the Federal Executive Council and President Tinubu must have carefully considered Amupitan’s capacity for reform before his nomination. “The President’s commitment to correcting systemic flaws in Nigeria may well begin with INEC,” he noted.

Aniebonam stressed that prompt action is needed to address unresolved matters and ensure the commission operates transparently and effectively under the new leadership.