INEC Boss Amupitan: Nigeria Must Hold Elections Where Losers Congratulate Winners

Nigeria’s newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has stated that the country must advance to a stage where elections are so credible that “the loser will gladly congratulate the winner.”

Amupitan made the remark on Thursday during his Senate screening, moments before his official confirmation. He assured lawmakers that he would review and strengthen the Electoral Act to enhance the transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

The renowned Professor of Law, PulseNets learnt, expressed concern over what he described as “inconsistencies in Nigeria’s election timelines,” adding that such irregularities often undermine voter confidence and the overall credibility of the process.

According to him, achieving genuinely transparent elections would not only deepen democracy but also restore the faith of Nigerians in the ballot.

“Our focus will be on how to make elections credible enough that the loser will confidently say to the winner, ‘You won fairly and squarely.’”

“If we can get to that point, it would be similar to a judge delivering a death sentence, and the convict saying, ‘I accept the judgment because justice has been served.’ That’s the level of fairness and trust we must build,” Amupitan told PulseNets.

Also Read: New INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan: The Legal Scholar Poised to Redefine Nigeria’s Electoral System

PulseNets reported that the Senate confirmed Amupitan’s appointment after an extensive two-hour screening session, during which he fielded questions on electoral reforms, technology adoption, and institutional integrity.