New INEC Chairman Promises Elections So Credible Even Losers Will Congratulate Winners
The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has vowed to conduct elections so transparent and credible that even losing candidates will willingly congratulate the winners.
Speaking during his Senate screening and subsequent confirmation on Thursday, Prof. Amupitan said his administration would focus on restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system through collaboration with critical national institutions such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“Our mission is simple — to make elections so credible that even the loser will congratulate the winner, just as both sides respect a fair court judgment,” he declared before lawmakers.
Following a three-hour screening session, the Senate unanimously approved his appointment. Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the new INEC boss and charged him to “ensure that every vote truly counts,” describing his confirmation as the beginning of a new era after the 10-year tenure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Prof. Amupitan announced plans to audit INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to address the technical glitches that undermined confidence in the 2023 general elections. He also pledged to institute an Ethics and Compliance Committee and introduce a whistleblower policy to strengthen internal accountability.
In addition, he revealed that INEC will collaborate more closely with security agencies and leverage advanced technology, including the use of drones, to enhance the security of election materials and logistics.
“This is a sacred national trust,” Amupitan affirmed. “We will conduct elections so fair, so transparent, and so credible that even those who lose will accept the results with dignity and respect.”
