Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has been confirmed as the sixth substantive Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Senate, an appointment that comes amidst significant public skepticism about the nation's electoral institutions. Amupitan’s vision for INEC centers on building a people-focused, technology-driven electoral system that leaves “no voter behind,” a pledge he reiterated during his Senate screening.

Addressing the pressing issues of electoral technology, Amupitan pledged a comprehensive audit of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He acknowledged that both systems, while intended to be “game changers” for transparency and integrity, fell short due to poor configuration and coordination during the 2023 general elections. He clarified that the Supreme Court had affirmed IReV was not an electronic collation system but a safeguard. The audit will determine the precise nature of the glitches, assess existing infrastructure, and identify what went wrong. To enhance reliability and security, he emphasized the necessity of collaboration with key agencies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and other service providers, stressing that "INEC cannot do it alone. Technology must inspire confidence, not confusion." He firmly stated that "Transmission of results in real time is desirable and possible," provided there is leadership will, adequate infrastructure, and a secure technological backbone.

Logistics, identified as a major weakness in past elections, will also undergo a significant overhaul under Amupitan’s leadership. He criticized the current over-reliance on third-party transporters, which frequently leads to vehicle breakdowns, delayed materials, and stranded presiding officers. He proposed "rethinking that model, perhaps build an internal transport system for election logistics." Furthermore, in a commitment to ensuring voter access in remote or insecure locations, Amupitan vowed to deploy drones "where necessary" to deliver election materials, declaring that "no voter will be disenfranchised."

Ethical accountability and transparency are cornerstones of his proposed reforms. Amupitan announced plans to establish an Internal Ethics and Compliance Committee to monitor staff behavior and ensure accountability, noting, "Elections are only as credible as the people who conduct them." He pledged to sanction those who compromise the process and to pursue every complaint thoroughly. Financial and procurement processes will also be transparent, with Amupitan assuring that "Every kobo released to INEC will be used strictly for its intended purpose" and that expenditures would be "open to scrutiny." He also stressed fairness and transparency in staff appointments, promising to disqualify politically connected individuals where bias is apparent, and to review the continued use of university lecturers as returning officers.

To enhance accessibility and participation, Amupitan committed to decentralizing and digitizing the voter registration process, making it more seamless and accessible. He also identified aggressive civic and voter education campaigns across the country as central to credible elections, empowering an informed electorate and reducing manipulation. Additionally, he promised to review election costs and strengthen collaboration with security agencies under clearly defined codes of conduct to prevent overreach.

Amupitan underscored his commitment to strengthening INEC's institutional independence, acknowledging that the commission's autonomy has often been hampered by delayed fund releases and a lack of clarity regarding its constitutional powers. He pledged to review existing laws and administrative frameworks to ensure INEC operates truly as an independent body, in both spirit and letter of the Constitution, and expressed readiness to collaborate with the National Assembly on critical reforms, including the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission.

His confirmation by the Senate, following hours of screening, was unanimous, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio praising Amupitan’s composure and grasp of electoral issues, describing him as “a fit and proper person” for the job. Akpabio also used the occasion to advocate for reforms in local government elections, calling them the "weakest link" and "a disgrace to democracy." However, the confirmation was not without criticism from civil society organizations. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the screening process as a "travesty," accusing the Senate of being a "rubber stamp" and alleging that Amupitan’s nomination was part of a political calculation to manipulate the 2027 general election, citing concerns about impartiality due to his ethnic background matching that of the President.

As Nigeria looks ahead to future elections, particularly the politically charged 2027 cycle, Amupitan’s promises of “drones, discipline, and digital transformation” have generated cautious optimism. His tenure will face intense scrutiny from civil society, opposition voices, and pro-democracy advocates, as the credibility of future electoral outcomes may well depend on his ability to fulfill these ambitious pledges and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.