No More Compromise: INEC declares total war on election fraud

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has again promised that the commission will fight every form of election rigging, especially vote-buying.

He made this statement on Tuesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja while swearing in Professor Adeniran Tella, the newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State.

Amupitan urged the new REC to always show professionalism and integrity in all his duties.

He said his mission as INEC chairman is to deliver elections that are free, fair, transparent, credible, and reflect the true choice of Nigerians.

According to him, this responsibility is not only a legal requirement but also a moral one.

He reminded Professor Tella that the credibility of Nigeria’s elections depends on the actions of RECs across the country.

He stressed that integrity in election management is “non-negotiable,” and warned that the commission will not tolerate any misconduct.

“You must ensure transparency and follow all guidelines and procedures in the Electoral Act,” he said.

Amupitan added that INEC has a duty to keep the electoral process clean, and any wrongdoing whether deliberate or accidental will not be accepted.

He encouraged the new REC to assure voters in Oyo State that their votes truly matter, and emphasized that INEC is committed to ending rigging and vote-buying.

“The eyes of the nation are on us,” he said. “The public trust in INEC is sacred.”
He urged Professor Tella to work closely with INEC staff to make Oyo State an example of integrity and strong democratic values.

Amupitan said restoring trust in elections will also help reduce voter apathy and other long-standing challenges.