The new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has stated that God brought him to the commission to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed through a transparent and credible election.

In his first meeting with Directors of the commission when he resumed in Abuja, the new INEC Chairman pledged to uphold integrity, transparency and discipline in the management of Nigeria’s electoral process, saying that the integrity of the electoral system was not negotiable.

“I am here for a purpose. Maybe if I had a choice, I would have said I would not come here. But from all indications, I can see that God is moving this country and my coming is divine.

“With God saying go, who am I to say no? I am here because I have a role to play to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed,” he said.

According to him, his resumption of office “marked the beginning of a new chapter.  I want to assure you of my commitment to holding the highest standard of integrity, transparency and discipline in all our operations.

“INEC has a constitutional responsibility and a statutory mandate to deliver free, fair and credible elections that reflects the will of Nigerian people,” he said

Professor Amupitan solicited the collaboration and teamwork of all INEC staff members, leveraging on each other’s unique skills and expertise to improve on the process and ensure success.

The upcoming Anambra governorship election, according to him, represents an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its commitment to free, fair and credible elections.

“The credibility in our elections is paramount, and we must ensure that every voter feels confident that their vote will count. Please, because that is a constitutional task.

“Let’s restore back the confidence of every voter that whenever there is an election, their votes will count so that we can address this issue of voter apathy,” he said.

Amupitan, who was accompanied by his wife, children, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Tanko Ishaya, and officials from the institution, also pledged to prioritise the welfare of INEC staff.

“For me, staff welfare is going to be a priority. We will expect a lot from you and because of that, you also deserve to be well equipped and supported to deliver.

“We will work assiduously to ensure that your working conditions are conducive and that you have the necessary resources to excel,” he stated.

Earlier in her remarks, the acting chairman of the commission, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who took over from Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, congratulated Amupitan on his appointment.

She said that Amupitan was assuming office at a most crucial time; when the commission was at the final stage of preparations for the Anambra governorship election.

“The task ahead, no doubt, is enormous. Elections are the lifeblood of democracy and the expectations of Nigerians have always been higher.

“However, you are not walking into an empty field. You are stepping onto the firm and fertile ground laid by your predecessor, Prof. Yakubu under whose leadership the commission recorded landmark innovations;

“From the introduction of technology-driven processes such as the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to the strengthening of institutional transparency and voter confidence.

“The foundation has been laid; the path is defined. What lies ahead is the building, the consolidation and the forward march,” she said.