INEC pledges ‘electoral justice’ in forthcoming elections

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has vowed to implement ‘electoral justice’ in Nigeria.

While speaking with the press in Awka, Amupitan revealed his plans to curb post election litigation. He pledged that INEC will work towards conducting transparent elections that will satisfy all parties involved.

“When you feel cheated, or you have been short-changed by INEC or by undue advantage through the security men or whatever it is, and you say okay I must go to court and challenge it. But if within yourself, you know that justice has been served. I’m sure that some people will now begin to accept it. Nobody can force anybody not to go to courts. There’s what is known as access to justice, and the courts must wait for somebody to bring a case to court. So, if nobody brings a case, even if you set up a tribunal and nobody goes to the court, the court cannot force you to bring your case. It may not be immediate, but we are looking at a situation whereby our elections will not be faulted,’’ Amupitan said.