We’ll make elections so transparent that losers will congratulate winners – Amupitan

…Senate confirms President’s nominee

Joash Amupitan (SAN), the newly confirmed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has vowed to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process by ensuring that elections under his leadership are transparent, credible, and widely accepted.

Speaking during his screening before the Senate on Thursday, Amupitan promised to “audit the system” and institute sweeping reforms aimed at rebuilding trust and integrity within the commission.

Amupitan further stated that the forthcoming off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun state will prove his mettle.

“Our ultimate goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will be able to congratulate the winner in good faith,” Amupitan said.

“We will strengthen internal mechanisms, enforce accountability, and ensure that every vote truly counts.”

Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, was confirmed by the Senate after over two hours of questioning that tested his knowledge of electoral law, his neutrality, and his vision for reform.

His nomination, sent by President Bola Tinubu, was unanimously approved through a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at about 3:17 p.m.

The nominee dismissed claims that he had served on Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, saying:

“I never and did not appear at any time whatsoever at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“Mentorship will not compromise my principles or my standards.”

Amupitan laid out a detailed roadmap for reform, anchored on integrity, accountability, technology, and civic education.

He pledged to establish an Ethics and Compliance Committee to investigate cases of misconduct by electoral officials and ensure sanctions where necessary.

“I’m taking this position on trust, and those who work with me must appreciate that they hold their positions on trust as well,” he told lawmakers.

“We will pursue every complaint and follow through. We may introduce a whistleblower policy within INEC to expose malpractices without fear of victimisation.”

To strengthen the fight against electoral offences, Amupitan called for collaboration with the National Assembly to establish a dedicated Electoral Offences Commission, noting that INEC currently lacks the capacity to fully investigate and prosecute such crimes.

He also promised to enhance security and logistics for future elections, leveraging technology, including the possible use of drones to ensure that election materials reach all parts of the country.

“Security is a major challenge, but we will confront it head-on,” he said.

“No voter will be left behind. We will invest in logistics and work with the Joint Committee on Election Security to ensure that materials and personnel are adequately protected.”

Addressing concerns about the Independent Results Viewing (IReV) portal and the confusion surrounding real-time transmission of results, the new INEC boss said he would review the system to improve transparency.

“There was no clarity on the purpose of IReV until the Supreme Court clarified that it was not an electronic collation system,” he noted.

“The glitches we saw in 2023 eroded public confidence. I intend to audit the system and ensure that we adopt technology that works.”

Amupitan also pledged to prioritise voter and civic education, promising to roll out digital learning modules for citizens and introduce civic education at an early age to deepen democratic values.

“INEC’s mandate under Section 2 of the Act includes voter and civic education, and we will carry it out aggressively,” he said. “We will build the capacity of our staff, political parties, and citizens to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.”

On financial management, the 58-year-old law professor assured senators that public funds allocated to INEC would be used strictly for their intended purposes.

“The procurement and finance laws enacted by this Assembly will be strictly enforced. Funds will be prudently managed and savings made where possible,” he said.

Following his presentation, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the nominee for his composure and clarity, describing the session as “very orderly” and reflective of the aspirations of Nigerians.

“I congratulate the President for presenting a nominee who faced no opposition and received unanimous approval,” Akpabio said.

“I hope his service will improve the electoral process, lead to greater transparency, and ensure that every vote counts.”

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Akpabio further charged the new INEC Chairman to work with the National Assembly to reform local government elections, which he described as “a winner-takes-all affair” that undermines grassroots democracy.

“Now that we are pushing for financial independence for local governments, electoral independence must follow,” he said.

Amupitan, who hails from Kogi State, becomes the first person from the state to be appointed INEC Chairman.

His nomination was earlier endorsed by the Council of State, with President Tinubu describing him as “apolitical” and “a man of integrity.”