INEC Chairman Vows Crackdown on Election Rigging and Vote Buying

(Prof. Joash Amupitan. Photo by Channels Tv)

Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has vowed to intensify efforts to combat election rigging and vote-buying ahead of future polls, describing the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system as non-negotiable.

Amupitan made the pledge in Abuja during the swearing-in of Professor Adeniran Tella as Resident Electoral Commissioner, describing the occasion as a solemn call to duty and stressing the critical role the new appointee would play in Nigeria’s democratic process.

He warned that any compromise on INEC’s values or procedures would not be tolerated, urging Tella to prioritise transparency and strict adherence to the Electoral Act in all his conduct.

“The credibility of our electoral system is the very foundation upon which our democracy stands. Any misconduct, whether by omission or commission, shall not be accepted,” he said.

Amupitan charged Tella to make it his primary goal to instil confidence in voters that their choices truly count, adding that public trust in the commission is sacred.

“We are resolved to combat all forms of election rigging, including the menace of vote-buying. The eyes of the nation are upon us,” he said.

Amupitan took over the leadership of INEC in October following the resignation of Mahmood Yakubu, who had served at the helm of the commission for nearly a decade.