Senate confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan as New INEC Chairman — Promises to restore election integrity
By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Senate on Thursday, October 16, 2025, confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after over two hours of rigorous questioning.
Prof. Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, received unanimous approval from the 10th Senate following a motion moved and seconded on the floor of the chamber. He succeeds Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who completed two terms as INEC Chairman.
A distinguished scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Amupitan becomes the first person to hold the dual titles of Professor and SAN to lead the electoral body since the return of democracy in 1999.
In his address to lawmakers, he pledged to promote election integrity and credibility, promising to ensure a process where “the loser can confidently call to congratulate the winner.”
He vowed to strengthen the BVAS and IReV systems, enhance collaboration with the NCC and NIMC, and embark on an aggressive voter education campaign. Prof. Amupitan also revealed plans to set up an Ethics Committee on Electoral Malpractice to address the logistics challenges that have long plagued Nigeria’s elections.
