New INEC Chairman committed to ensuring credible elections

The newly appointed INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has committed to conducting elections with such transparency and integrity that even candidates who lose will gladly congratulate the winners.

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Amupitan emphasized his goal of restoring public confidence in the electoral process by collaborating with key organizations such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

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“Our aim is to create a level of credibility in elections that allows even the losing candidate to commend the winner in good spirit, similar to how both parties would accept a fair judicial ruling,” he stated to lawmakers.

The Senate unanimously approved his appointment following a three-hour screening session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged him to ensure that every vote is counted, mentioning that his confirmation signals a new era after Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s decade-long leadership.

Amupitan expressed his intention to review INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to address the issues that diminished confidence in the 2023 elections. He also pledged to enhance accountability within the commission through an Ethics and Compliance Committee and a whistleblower policy.

Additionally, he stated that INEC will collaborate with security forces and incorporate technology, including drones, to protect election materials and operations.

“This is a sacred responsibility,” Amupitan remarked. “We will ensure our elections are so legitimate that even those who lose will recognize them as fair and just.”