President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, October 23, 2025, officially swore in Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the sixth substantive Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The momentous ceremony took place at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja, preceding an expanded meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), marking the formal commencement of Professor Amupitan’s tenure as the head of Nigeria’s crucial electoral body.

In his charge to the newly appointed INEC Chairman, President Tinubu underscored the paramount importance of electoral integrity. He urged Amupitan to steadfastly protect Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity, and ensure the delivery of free, fair, and credible elections. President Tinubu emphasized the continuous improvement of the electoral process, stressing the need to address past challenges and innovate for the future. He highlighted that all aspects of elections, from voter registration and campaigning to voting and vote counting, must be transparent, non-violent, and credible to maintain public trust. The President reiterated that while no electoral system is flawless, strengthening electoral institutions is vital for a nation's future, ensuring they are robust, resilient, and safeguarded against artificial setbacks. He specifically tasked Professor Amupitan to align Nigeria's electoral processes with international best practices.

Professor Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law at the University of Jos, hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014, specializing in complex areas such as company law, law of evidence, corporate governance, and privatization law. His appointment followed a nomination by President Tinubu, which received unanimous approval from the National Council of State and subsequent confirmation by the Senate through a voice vote on October 16, 2025, after a rigorous screening exercise.

Shortly after the swearing-in, Professor Amupitan formally assumed office at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his wife and other dignitaries. He took over from May Agbamuche-Mbu, who had been serving as the Acting Chairman of the Commission since the conclusion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure. During his inaugural address and interactive session with INEC directors and staff, Professor Amupitan described his appointment as a “divine call to service,” expressing his belief that he has a crucial role to play in birthing a “new Nigeria.”

The new INEC Chairman pledged to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and discipline in managing Nigeria’s electoral process. He vowed to engage all stakeholders to ensure free, fair, and credible elections across the country, stressing that success hinges on collective effort and synergy among all departments and staff. Prioritizing staff welfare and professional development, Professor Amupitan assured the Commission’s personnel of conducive working conditions and necessary resources to excel. He emphasized the critical need to restore public confidence in the electoral process, asserting that the integrity of elections is non-negotiable and every voter must feel confident that their vote counts.

Professor Amupitan faces immediate and significant tasks, prominently the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections in February 2026. He highlighted the Anambra poll as a “litmus test” for the new leadership’s resolve to uphold credibility and transparency. During his Senate screening, he had outlined plans to reform Nigeria’s electoral system, strengthen institutional independence, rebuild public trust in INEC, prioritize amendments to the Electoral Act, and improve transparency in the conduct of polls. He also refuted claims of his alleged involvement in President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 presidential election petition, stressing his neutrality and independence.

May Agbamuche-Mbu, in her handover remarks, welcomed Professor Amupitan, acknowledging his distinguished record as a legal scholar and patriot, and his call to national service. She noted that he assumes office at a crucial time, with preparations for the Anambra governorship election in their final stages. Agbamuche-Mbu highlighted that Professor Amupitan is stepping onto “firm and fertile ground” laid by his predecessor, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure from 2015 to 2025 saw landmark innovations such as the introduction of technology-driven processes like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), along with strengthened institutional transparency. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), have urged the new INEC boss to consolidate these gains, emphasizing that sustaining electoral integrity requires collective commitment from political parties, the judiciary, security agencies, and citizens.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, House Leader Julius Ihonbvere, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Head of Service Didi Walson-Jack, and several ministers, underscoring the national significance of Professor Amupitan’s appointment.