*Says Was Never Part Of 2023 Presidential Election Tribunal
THE newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to deliver acceptable elections and build a people-focused, technology-powered electoral system that leaves “no voter behind,” promising to deploy drones, if necessary, to reach even the most remote communities.
Amupitan, while responding to questions during his screening by the senate, used the opportunity to debunk speculations that he was part of the legal team of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections litigations, insisting he did not participate in the tribunal.
“When I was coming here, I bought the certified true copy of the legal appearances at the tribunal and the Supreme Court.
“I was not part of it. I never, I did not partake in it,” Amupitan insisted.
Amupitan unveiled an ambitious roadmap to overhaul Nigeria’s electoral system, anchored on logistics reform, technological innovation, ethical accountability and robust civic education, saying: “No voter will be left behind.
“We will invest in logistics and technology, and where necessary, deploy drones with adequate safeguards, to ensure elections are conducted smoothly across Nigeria.”
The professor of Law, known for his reformist position, said one of his immediate priorities would be to fix the logistics chain that has repeatedly undermined election credibility.
“We will work closely with the Joint Committee on Election Security to ensure the safe and timely delivery of materials. If we must use drones to overcome inaccessibility or insecurity, we will, with proper safeguards,” he said.
He admitted that the current system’s dependence on external contractors had created chronic inefficiencies, stating: “We rely too heavily on third-party transporters. Vehicles break down, materials are delayed and presiding officers are stranded.
“We must rethink that model, perhaps build an internal transport system for election logistics,” he stated, while promising to conduct a comprehensive audit of INEC’s technology and infrastructure, ensuring that the Commission’s digital tools are reliable, secure, and effectively deployed.
Responding to senators’ questions on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), whose glitches marred the 2023 general elections, Amupitan said both technologies were “intended to be game changers,” but fell short due to poor configuration and weak coordination.
“There was no clarity as to the exact purpose of BVAS and IReV until the Supreme Court clarified that IReV was not an electronic collation system.
““If confirmed, I will first conduct a full audit of INEC’s systems to determine what went wrong and whether we have the required infrastructure.”
He stressed the need for collaboration with agencies, such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to guarantee network reliability and data security, admiting: “INEC cannot do it alone. Technology must inspire confidence, not confusion.”
Beyond technology, the new INEC Chairman said integrity and discipline within INEC are the foundation for credible elections, while unveiling plans to set up an Internal Ethics and Compliance Committee to monitor staff behaviour and enforce accountability.
“One of the things we have to do is to develop an internal mechanism that can track human behaviour. Those who compromise the process will be sanctioned. Elections are only as credible as the people who conduct them.”
Amupitan also promised forensic auditing of results and finances, vowing strict compliance with financial and procurement laws.
“Every kobo released to INEC will be used strictly for its intended purpose,” he said. “Our expenditures will be open to scrutiny. Nigerians deserve to know how their resources are used in safeguarding democracy.”
On voter registration challenges, Amupitan said he plans to decentralise and digitise the process, bringing registration closer to the grassroots and eliminating long-standing bottlenecks.
“Beyond decentralising, I want to look at a situation where we can even use technology to eliminate the encumbrances we’ve seen in voter registration.
“With supportive technology, we can make registration seamless.”
Stressing the importance of civic education as a cornerstone of credible elections, he added: “We will undertake aggressive civic and voter education across the country.
“INEC will build capacity not only for its staff, but also for political parties, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“When people understand the process, they are empowered to participate fully and freely. An informed electorate is less likely to be manipulated.”
After hours of intense screening, the senate unanimously confirmed Amupitan’s appointment.
Akpabio announced the decision amid applause from lawmakers, saying: “The nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is hereby confirmed as Chairman of INEC.”
