ABUJA, Oct 24 (The African Portal) – President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigeria’s new electoral chief, Professor Joash Amupitan, to prioritise transparency and non-violence as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after swearing in Professor Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, Mr Tinubu said credible elections remained essential for public trust and democratic stability.
The president described the appointment — confirmed by the Senate last week — as a vote of confidence in Amupitan’s competence and character.
“I urge you, Professor Amupitan, as you take on this assignment, to protect the integrity of our elections and the institutional capacity of INEC,” Mr Tinubu said. “I wish you success on your first assignment in November 2025, which is the Anambra State governorship election.”
Mr Tinubu said Nigeria’s democracy, which has endured since 1999, had evolved through reforms and lessons learned from past challenges.
“Our democracy has come a long way. We have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system,” he said. “To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach.”
While acknowledging that no electoral system was flawless, the president said credibility and transparency at every stage — from voter registration to vote counting — were crucial to maintaining public trust.
“Elections safeguard the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future,” he added. “We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow.”
After taking the oath of office, Professor Amupitan pledged to uphold the constitution and work with stakeholders to deliver credible elections.
“I reaffirm my commitment to defend the Constitution and ensure credible, fair, and free elections,” he told reporters at the State House. “My leadership will prioritise collaboration with political parties, civil society groups, and security agencies.”
