President Bola Tinubu on Thursday charged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, to prioritise transparency and non-violence as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, saying credible polls remained the foundation of public trust and democratic stability.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja shortly after administering the oath of office on the new INEC boss, Tinubu said Amupitan’s appointment, confirmed by the Senate a week ago, was a mark of confidence in his competence and character by both the executive and legislative arms of government.
“I, therefore, urge you, Professor Amupitan, as you take on this assignment, to protect the integrity of our elections and the electoral process and the institutional capacity of INEC, and I wish you success on your first assignment in November 2025, which is the governorship election of Anambra state,” Tinubu said.
“As the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination and confirmation are a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you,” Tinubu said, adding, “This marks the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I trust that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest level of integrity, dedication, and patriotism.”
The President emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy, which has lasted since 1999, had evolved through reforms, innovation, and lessons learned from past challenges.
“Our democracy has come a long way. We have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach,” Tinubu noted.
President Tinubu added that while no electoral system was flawless, credibility and transparency at every stage, be it registration, campaigning, voting, and results collation, remained critical to sustaining public trust.
He said, “To maintain public trust in elections, electoral integrity must be protected, all aspects of the process from registration to campaigning, the media access, voting and counting should be transparent, non-violent and credible.
“Elections safeguard the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future.
“We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow.”
Tinubu urged Amupitan to prioritise transparency, inclusivity, and non-violence in future polls.
Shortly after the ceremony, Amupitan told State House correspondents that he would uphold the Constitution and engage all stakeholders in the pursuit of credible elections.
“I’ve just taken the oath of allegiance and the oath as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. I reaffirm my commitment to defend the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they relate to the electoral system. Like the President said, I have been given a clear charge to ensure credible, fair, and free elections, and that I will ensure,” he said.
The new INEC boss said his leadership would prioritise collaboration with political parties, civil society organisations, and security agencies.
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