Professor Joash Amupitan, a distinguished legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has been unanimously confirmed by the Nigerian Senate as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This confirmation followed a rigorous screening session lasting approximately three hours on Thursday, during which lawmakers posed probing questions regarding his impartiality, legal background, and comprehensive plans to strengthen Nigeria's electoral process. Professor Amupitan, nominated by President Bola Tinubu, steps into the role previously held by Mahmood Yakubu, who concluded his second tenure on October 7, 2025.

During his screening, Professor Amupitan articulated a clear vision for the nation's electoral body: to ensure elections are so credible that "losers will congratulate winners." He underscored his commitment to restoring public trust and enhancing the transparency and integrity of Nigerian elections. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended Amupitan as a "man of intellect, courage, and integrity," urging him to ensure future elections are transparent, credible, and truly reflective of the people's will, where "votes will count." An Inspector-General of Police (IGP) report also cleared Amupitan of any criminal record, further cementing his suitability for the pivotal role.

A significant area of focus for the new INEC chief is the reform of the commission's technological infrastructure, particularly the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. Amupitan pledged to conduct a comprehensive audit of the IReV portal to identify and address glitches that undermined public confidence during the 2023 elections. He acknowledged that the purpose of the IReV, alongside the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), is to ensure election integrity. He clarified that the Supreme Court had previously stated that IReV was not an electronic collation system but rather a safeguard for comparison, a position not adequately communicated before the 2023 polls. The audit will assess the system's current capabilities and ensure collaboration with agencies like NCC and NIMC to provide reliable technology.

Professor Amupitan also outlined several other critical reforms. He vowed to strengthen the credibility of Nigerian elections by examining the Electoral Act to address inconsistencies in electoral timelines, a situation he believes can be improved to restore voters' confidence. To combat electoral malpractice, he pledged to introduce an internal Ethics and Compliance Committee within INEC to hold electoral officers accountable for misconduct and follow through on reported cases. Furthermore, he called upon the National Assembly to fast-track the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, a dedicated body crucial for investigating and prosecuting electoral crimes. He also hinted at a whistleblower policy to protect individuals exposing corruption.

Addressing concerns about INEC's independence, Amupitan committed to exploring constitutional provisions to guarantee the commission's true autonomy. He recognized that financial constraints and a lack of awareness of constitutional powers have historically hampered INEC's independence and assured lawmakers that he would conduct an audit to identify and address these limiting factors. On logistics and election-day security, he promised to strengthen coordination with the Joint Committee on Election Security, considering innovative methods, including the possible use of drones in high-risk areas, to ensure the safe delivery of materials and protection of personnel and voters. He emphasized that "No voter will be left behind."

Born on April 25, 1967, and hailing from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, Professor Amupitan is an alumnus and law professor at the University of Jos, specializing in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014 and has served as a legal consultant to various national and international institutions. With his confirmation, Professor Amupitan becomes the 13th substantive chairperson of INEC since Nigeria's independence in 1960. His initial major tasks will include overseeing the Anambra governorship election on November 8 and the FCT Area Council election in February 2026. His appointment marks a significant moment for Nigeria's democracy, offering a chance for INEC to rebuild public confidence and position itself as a truly independent and impartial umpire.