INEC Chair-Designate Amupitan Vows to Overhaul Election Logistics, Cites 2023 Power Failure Experience

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Chairman-designate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has pledged to overhaul the logistics framework used during elections across Nigeria.

Amupitan made the promise on Thursday while responding to questions during his screening before the Senate. He emphasized that poor logistics have remained one of the major setbacks in the nation’s electoral process, vowing to initiate comprehensive reviews once confirmed.

He lamented the condition of some vehicles used to transport sensitive materials during elections, describing them as “unfit for the task.” Recalling a personal experience from the 2023 general elections, Amupitan narrated how his wife, who served as a collation officer, had to rely on a generator due to power failure at the collation center.

“My wife was a collation officer; we had to provide a generator because there was no light,” he said, stressing the urgency of improving electoral operations nationwide.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier, on October 9, unveiled Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman during the National Council of State meeting, following the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s two-term tenure.

The president formally requested the Senate to confirm Amupitan’s appointment in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on October 14.

If confirmed, Amupitan is expected to lead reforms aimed at strengthening the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral system.