Why I’ll Reject Political Appointments After INEC – Amupitan

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has explained why he will not accept any political appointment after leaving office.

Amupitan said his decision to head the electoral commission is rooted in public trust and the need to protect its neutrality.

He made the declaration during a panel discussion at Chatham House in London, where he was asked whether he would commit to rejecting political or diplomatic appointments after his tenure, unlike his predecessor, who accepted an appointment from the president whose election he supervised.

“I’m not going to accept any appointment from anybody because coming to serve here is based on trust,” he said.

He said accepting the INEC chairmanship meant taking an oath to remain neutral and ensure that elections were conducted freely, fairly and credibly.

“And then I took an oath of allegiance, not only to be neutral, but to ensure that the conduct of the election is free, fair, and credible,” he said.

The INEC chairman described the position as a national assignment, arguing that the responsibility should not be viewed simply as an opportunity to secure personal benefits.

He, however, said that people who have spent years in public service should also have time to pursue their personal interests.

“All my life I have served the public, so there should be occasion where you should also have time to serve yourself,” he said.

Amupitan, a professor of corporate governance, also made reference to his knowledge of investment opportunities and wealth management, saying he was aware of opportunities available in Nigeria and elsewhere.

“Because I’m a professor of corporate governance. I know where the hidden wealths are in this world, part of which are in Nigeria. So, a lot of people are looking for it. I should also be part of it,” he added.

His remarks came amid public scrutiny of INEC’s independence and credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections, following the controversies surrounding the 2023 polls.

At the same Chatham House engagement, Amupitan outlined measures the commission was introducing to improve election management, including safeguards to prevent inaccurate polling unit results from being uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.