Joash Amupitan, the new head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has pledged to uphold the Constitution and the electoral laws of Nigeria.
He made this statement while speaking to journalists shortly after President Bola Tinubu sworn in at the State House in Abuja.
“I just took the oath of allegiance as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, as you may be aware.
In terms of the electoral system, he said to journalists on Thursday, “I reaffirm that I will defend the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman, addresses journalists following his swearing-in on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Amupitan added that the country’s Constitution had clearly mandated him to ensure fair, credible, and free elections.
I’ll involve all parties involved in this process, not just making sure it’s done. You need all stakeholders to succeed, he said, regardless of how success is measured.
READ MORE: INEC Chairman Amupitan Meets Headquarters To Take Over Office
He said he would speak after receiving briefings from national commissioners, but that he would not do so in the upcoming Anambra election.
A week after the Senate approved his appointment following a thorough screening on October 16, President Tinubu swore in Amupitan as INEC Chairman.
Later, the new chairman accompanied by his family and close friends to the INEC headquarters in Abuja to officially take office.
Amupitan has been the electoral body’s substantive head since 1999 when democracy first emerged.
“Keep Democracy Strong”
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, President Bola Tinubu sworn in Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman at the state house in Abuja.
President Tinubu appoints Amupitan to strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity and safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process during the swearing-in.
Your nomination and confirmation show the Executive and Legislative confidence in you.
In 25 years, our democracy has advanced significantly. Our electoral process must remain impartial, credible, and free to keep it strong. Therefore, I ask that you take steps to improve the security of our elections and strengthen the institutional framework of INEC.
Amupitan arrived at the State House earlier in the day, exchanging greetings with onlookers, and wearing a white agbada and gold cap.
Electoral Legitimacy
The 58-year-old law professor was subjected to extensive inquiries during his Senate screening about how he intends to restore Nigeria’s electoral legitimacy and implement meaningful reforms.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Amupitan promised to give reforms that boost voter confidence and promote transparency prioritization.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.
Following his screening on Thursday, October 16, 2025, professor of law Joash Amupitan (fourth-right) received his confirmation by the upper chamber.
Amupitan also refuted reports that he was a member of President Tinubu’s legal team at the upcoming presidential election.
He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”
Three new commissioners and eight permanent secretaries have been sworn in by Katsina State governor Dikko Radda, who urged them to view their appointments as solemn obligations to serve the state’s citizens with integrity, accountability, and a sense of duty.
Yusuf Jibia, Aisha Malumfashi, and Sirajo Abukur are just a few of the commissioners who took the oath.
The Permanent Secretaries are: Nasiru Ladan (Kaita LGA), Yusuf Ahmed (Katsina LGA), Aminu Ibrahim (Katsina LGA), Dasuki Ibrahim Abubakar (Malumfashi LGA), Lawal Abashe (Matazu LGA), Ado Yahaya (Sabuwa LGA), Sani Rabi’u Jibia (Jibia LGA), and Aminu Ibrahim (K
The governor emphasized that the swearing-in ceremony occurred as his administration was reviewing its performance after two and a half years in office in an effort to improve the civil service and improve its ability to respond to citizen needs.
Top government officials, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and the appointees’ families attended the ceremony, which took place on Thursday at the Katsina Government House Council Chamber.
Governor Radda characterized the occasion as “a renewal of commitment to good governance, accountability, and effective service delivery.”
“This administration has been in power for almost two and a half years. Therefore, he said, “It is time for us to reevaluate what we have done so far and reposition people in various capacities to strengthen the system.”
Governor Radda praised the new commissioners’ ability, moral character, and public service record.
The Governor praised Jibia’s decades of experience in various leadership positions, including those of the local government commissioner, commissioner, and chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, and described him as “the oldest politician in the cabinet.”
He has done everything and been everywhere. His extensive experience, thorough knowledge of governance, and dedication to the public service will continue to benefit us, the governor said.
Update: Tinubu Swears In Amupitan As INEC Chairman
He also praised Aisha Aminu for her outstanding contribution to Katsina State’s governance and entrepreneurship.
Radda recalls her tireless efforts during his campaign and her impressive accomplishments as the era’s first director general of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), where she gave a lot of young entrepreneurs and small business owners a boost.
In order to continue benefiting from her experience, innovation, and commitment to youth and women empowerment, he said, “I decided to elevate her to the position of Commissioner” in light of her performance and my desire to see more women in government.”
Abukur was praised by the governor as a long-time political associate and a representative of young leadership spirit. He recalled Sirajo’s outstanding work as KASROMA’s leader, who helped to improve road maintenance and construction across the 34 local governments.
Radda emphasized that “we need to recruit young people into government so that we can harness their creativity, drive for development,”
Governor Radda also emphasized the value of diversity, arguing that Sirajo’s appointment shows that Rimi Local Government Area, which hasn’t had a commissioner since the return of democracy, is represented fairly and representative.
He stated, “As fate would have it, it is now time for Rimi to be represented in the cabinet,” underscoring his commitment to fair appointments in all sectors.
Governor Radda described their appointments as part of his ongoing effort to professionalize the state civil service, referring to the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries. He demanded that they follow a strict schedule, follow-through, and effectively support policy implementation.
Joash Amupitan has been appointed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu.  ,
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
The professor of law was given the task of President Tinubu to enhance INEC’s institutional capacity and ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process.
Your appointment to the crucial position and the Senate’s confirmation as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission are testament to your capacity and the trust you have in the executive and legislative branches of the government.
I firmly believe that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity, dedication, and patriotism. “The significant achievement marked the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey.
“Our democracy has advanced significantly.” Through innovation and reforms, we have strengthened and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, over the past 25 years. Along the way, we have gained a lot and made significant improvements over what we had before.
We must now continue to adhere to the principles that govern democracy in a complex, multifaceted society.
Beyond Reproach: Integrity
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system must be beyond reproach, according to Tinubu, in order for it to continue to prosper.
The people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and determine their future are protected by the electoral process, which is a crucial component of democracy. Our electoral system must be unwaveringly trustworthy in order for our democracy to continue to flourish. Our elections need to be fair, credible, and free.
We must constantly improve the electoral process by addressing the issues of yesterday and creating new possibilities for the present and future. Election integrity must be maintained in order to keep the public informed about elections.
“All facets of the process, from registration to campaigning, to voting and counting, must be transparent, non-violent, and credible.
No electoral system is perfect, but since elections are crucial for a country’s future, it is crucial to constantly strengthen electoral institutions, making sure they are strong, resilient, and protected from official setbacks.
The President reaffirmed that “I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this crucial assignment to advance the integrity of our elections and electoral process and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.”
Amupitan met with onlookers at the State House on Thursday morning, clad in a white “agbada” and sporting a gold cap, and greeted them as he officially assumed the position of head of the nation’s electoral umpire.
Some presidential advisers accompanied the professor.
Read more about Amupitan’s confirmation as INEC Chairman in the Senate.
He resuming his duties as the new chairman shortly after taking the oath of office.
Restoring Election Credibility
Senators questioned the 58-year-old don about his plans to bring about positive changes in the commission and restore credibility to the electoral process during his screening last week at the Senate.
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose term as INEC Chairman officially ended recently and was nominated by President Tinubu and supported by the National Council of State.
Following his screening on Thursday, October 16, 2025, professor of law Joash Amupitan (fourth-right) received his confirmation by the upper chamber.
Since its founding, he is the electoral body’s sixth substantive head.
Amupitan had promised to prioritize electoral reforms that would boost voter confidence and ensure transparent polls while speaking to the Senate during his screening.
The professor stated that his main goals would be to strengthen the Electoral Act’s provisions to address irregularities in election dates and increase legitimacy.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria clarified that he had never represented the President or represented any of the opposition candidates in the statement that he had also refuted reports that he had spoken to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court.
He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”
Profile
The 58-year-old Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967, and is from Kogi State’s Ijumu Local Government Area known as Ayetoro Gbede.
He is Plateau State University of Jos’ Professor of Law. He graduated from the university as well.
He has a particular area of expertise in corporate law, law of evidence, corporate governance, and privatization law. In September 2014, he was appointed to the Nigerian Senior Advocate.
He attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987 after earning his primary and secondary education. In 1988, he was referred to the bar.
Amupitan completed his academic career in 1989 with a 1988-89 National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, earning both an LLM and a PhD in 2007.
Professor Joash Ojo Amputan
Prior to his appointment, he served as the University of Jos’ deputy vice-chancellor (administration), as well as the Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s governor and chairman.
He is currently the head of public law at UNIJOS, along with the committee of directors and deans from 2012 to 2014.
In addition to his academic duties, Amupitan also serves on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education, among other positions.
He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of numerous legal books, including an introduction to the law of trust in Nigeria (2014), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
Olisa Agbakoba, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has reiterated his call for decentralization of power, arguing that democracy will remain fragile without the transfer of power and resources to local governments and states.
Agbakoba made the call at a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria, where he presented a policy document titled “Devolution is the Solution – Foundational Reform Agenda for Transformation” (Francoise version).
Before the 2027 presidential elections, he referred to the blueprint as a blueprint for restructuring Nigeria’s political and economic systems.
Agbakoba criticized what he termed Nigeria’s “fatal illusion” of federalism, noting that the Federal Government is in charge of 97% of all revenues while the majority of states rely on bailouts.
Without federal assistance, “five out of thirty-six states cannot pay their salaries.” He claimed that there are more than 76 local governments and 36 states that serve as distribution centers for federal aid and are not development engines.
Read more about Western Democracy in Nigeria: Agbakoba and Defections Won’t Help.
He warned that because of this extreme centralization, millions of Nigerians are trapped in an unproductive informal economy, which only allows for three or four percent of GDP growth as opposed to the ten to twelve percent needed to escape poverty.
Political rather than economic
Agbakoba praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including those aimed at reducing fuel subsidies and liberalizing foreign exchange, but argued that they needed political reform to succeed.
“Political is the root of the problem,” not economic. Because you can’t patch a cracked foundation, he claimed, twenty-five years of constitutional amendments failed.
To formally impose federalism through a significant devolution of powers, the senior lawyer emphasized that Nigeria needs a new constitution rather than additional amendments.
Agbakoba argued that states should retain 60% of the nation’s internal revenue while maintaining control over their resources, including policing, electricity, and solid minerals.
He further stated that local governments must be granted constitutional authority in terms of community development, including education, healthcare, water, sanitation, and health.
The senior lawyer argued that the federal government should concentrate on foreign affairs, including currency, defense, immigration, and defense.
He claimed that a multi-centred economy with more people-centric governance would emerge from a centralized redistribution system.
Untapped Wealth , pp ,
Agbakoba noted that poor legislation and regulatory failures continue to stymie Nigeria’s 25 to 35 trillion-percent untapped revenue potential.
He revealed that illegal fishing, untaxed oil rigs, inefficient ports, and untaxed oil rigs cause annual losses of 11 trillion.
Additionally, the SAN claimed that unexploited resources like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, valued at up to 45 trillion, are present. Agbakoba argued that the implementation of these reforms would set Nigeria on its way to a development boom.
“If these reforms are put into place, Nigeria could have $500 trillion in its budgets.” In terms of infrastructure, education, and healthcare, we might rival Asian economies. He predicted that a strong middle class would emerge, agriculture would feed Africa, industries would create millions of jobs, and there would be global competition for technology hubs, he said.
If Nigerians reject the current system, which benefits a few while impoverishing millions, then this transformation, he claimed, could take place in five years with solid foundations by 2030.
According to Agbakoba, political and economic restructuring is necessary to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, has urged residents to protect themselves from persistent bandit attacks as a result of growing concerns about insecurity in various parts of the nation.
He resolutely argued that no matter what the circumstances, his administration would never negotiate with or pay a ransom to criminals.
READ MORE: Tanker Explosion: Gov Bago Sympathizes With Niger Community.
Bago made the statement while traveling to the local government areas of Rijau and Magama, where several communities have recently been attacked by bandits operating from the Kontagora axis.
The governor claimed that the state had reached a critical stage, urging people to take collective action, warning that paying ransom would only enrage criminals and encourage kidnapping.
“I won’t bargain with bandits,” I said. I won’t demand a ransom.
He said, “They will open a shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people until we start paying.”
“The situation has reached a war zone that calls for collective coercion.” We have enemies in our area, but we won’t give up.
The governor continued, “We will defend our lives and property as the constitution allows.”
Niger Government Commits and Approves Free Care for Explosion Victims
Bago announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 people for the state’s joint task force to improve community security and restore peace, calling the frequent attacks and residents’ displacement as “embarrassing and unacceptable.”
The governor also announced a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso.
Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara are the affected local government areas.
According to Bago, illegal mining had become a major contributor to the zone’s insecurity, noting that many miners had unrestricted access to forests that were viewed as unsafe for residents.
The bandits don’t touch the forests, despite suspicion that miners can freely enter them. He stated that I have mandated that anyone caught engaging in mining activities be detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is in Abuja for President Bola Tinubu’s swearing-in ceremony.
Amupitan met with onlookers at the State House on Thursday morning, clad in a white “agbada” and sporting a gold cap, and greeted them as he officially assumed the position of head of the nation’s electoral umpire.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the professor of law was accompanied by a few presidential aides.
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Professor Amupitan will be present at the State House.
The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima in the Villa’s Council Chamber.
Governors and deputy governors from each of the Federation’s 36 states are present at the meeting.
Amupitan’s visit to the villa comes a week after the Senate approved his appointment as INEC Chairman following a rigorous screening session on October 16.
Senators questioned the 58-year-old don about his plans to bring about lasting reforms in the commission and restore credibility to the electoral process during his screening.
Following his screening on Thursday, October 16, 2025, professor of law Joash Amupitan (fourth-right) received his confirmation by the upper chamber. [VIDEO] INEC Chairman-designate Amupitan Sees Nigerian Elections Where “Lizard Will Congratulate Winner”
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose term as INEC Chairman officially ended recently and was nominated by President Tinubu and supported by the National Council of State.
Since its founding, he is the electoral body’s sixth substantive head.
Amupitan had promised to prioritize electoral reforms that would boost voter confidence and ensure transparent polls while speaking to the Senate during his screening.
The professor stated that his main goals would be to strengthen the Electoral Act’s provisions to address irregularities in election dates and increase legitimacy.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.
After more than two hours of questioning on October 16, 2025, Amupitan was confirmed by the Senate.
The law professor clarified that he neither represented the President nor appeared for any of the opposition candidates in response to reports that he had been connected to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court.
He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”
