Senate confirms Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman. He pledges independence, tech-driven logistics, and transparency in future elections.
The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His appointment marks a significant step toward strengthening the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.
During his confirmation hearing, Prof. Amupitan pledged to uphold INEC’s independence and improve electoral logistics across the country. He emphasized that his administration would adopt innovative solutions, including the possible use of drones for material delivery to remote areas, ensuring that “no voter will be left behind.”
“We can also invest more in logistics to ensure that we can penetrate every part of Nigeria, even if we have to use drones with necessary safeguards, to ensure that those materials reach those places, because no voter will be left behind,” he stated.
The new INEC Chairman also spoke candidly about his personal experience with the Commission’s logistical challenges during previous elections.
“My wife was a collection officer. I had to bring a generator to help them because there was no light. Logistics waste time, and those facilities were not there. If we want to do it, let’s do it well; we will provide the necessary transport logistics,” he explained.
Prof. Amupitan further revealed plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of INEC’s systems, particularly focusing on the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal glitches experienced during the 2023 Presidential Election. He stated that restoring public trust in the electoral process would be a top priority under his leadership.
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With his confirmation, many Nigerians and political observers are optimistic that INEC will experience a new era of transparency, accountability, and technological innovation in election management.