How I’ll regain Nigerians’ confidence in elections – Amupitan

The newly confirmed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, has vowed to rebuild public trust and confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and reduce voter apathy through transparency, civic education and technology-driven reforms.

Amupitan, who was confirmed by the Senate yesterday amid praise and scrutiny, said one of his foremost priorities would be to restore confidence in the use of election technology, particularly the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal; two innovations that have stirred up deep controversy since the 2023 general elections.

He assured lawmakers that both tools would not be abandoned but strengthened to enhance electoral transparency and credibility. “There has been confusion over certain innovations introduced by INEC, such as the electronic collation system,” he said during his screening. “The Supreme Court has clarified some of these matters. When we assume office, we will assess the infrastructure on ground, review the technology and adopt the best approach that enhances transparency and credibility in elections.”

Amupitan explained that the Commission would undertake a full audit of its technological systems and data architecture to address previous glitches and restore public trust. “Our goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will be able to congratulate the winner in good faith,” he said.

He further pledged to restore confidence in the ballot by ensuring that every eligible Nigerian can vote freely and fairly, no matter their location or circumstances. “No voter will be disenfranchised. We will invest in logistics and technology. Where necessary, drones will be used to deliver materials to hard-to-reach areas. Every eligible Nigerian must be able to vote,” the law professor declared.

The confidence of Nigerians in elections will only be regained through openness, fairness and the courage to do what is right. Our approach will be guided by integrity, accountability, security, efficiency and education, to ensure that elections in Nigeria truly reflect the will of the people,” he told the senators.

He also pledged to strengthen civic engagement and institutional accountability through a nationwide voter education campaign and the establishment of an INEC Ethics and Compliance Committee.

According to him, understanding the electoral process is key to ending manipulation and apathy among citizens.

“When people understand the process, they are less likely to be manipulated. Our goal is to build an informed electorate that participates fully and freely,” he said.

He told the lawmakers that the Ethics and Compliance Committee would serve as an internal watchdog to ensure discipline and integrity within the Commission. “We must establish a credible internal mechanism to monitor the conduct and behaviour of officials. There have been numerous reports of electoral malpractice in the past, some of which were never properly addressed. In some instances, such as in Bayelsa and Adamawa states, a few offenders were prosecuted and even convicted. We intend to follow through on such cases to ensure accountability,” he said.

He added that he would introduce a whistleblower policy within INEC to encourage reporting of misconduct without fear of victimisation, stressing that “those who will work with me must recognise that they are holding the trust of the Nigerian people.”

He also underscored the need for legislative backing to strengthen the fight against electoral offences, calling for collaboration with the National Assembly to establish an Electoral Offences Commission with investigative and prosecutorial powers. “The current system lacks sufficient capacity to handle electoral crimes. We plan to develop a system that can detect, investigate and prosecute misconduct, supported by forensic methods when necessary,” he said.

On security and logistics, Amupitan acknowledged the challenges posed by Nigeria’s size and diversity. He pledged close collaboration with the Joint Committee on Election Security to ensure adequate protection of election materials, personnel and voters, especially in high-risk areas. “Security is central to credible elections. We will enhance coordination between INEC and security agencies to protect both the process and the people,” he said.

He further assured senators of fiscal discipline and adherence to extant financial laws. “INEC funds will be used only for the purposes for which they are appropriated,” he said. “We will strictly adhere to the Public Procurement Act and the Finance Act and we will seek ways to cut costs where possible without compromising efficiency.”

He acknowledged that some provisions of the Electoral Act contain contradictions and inconsistencies, particularly in timelines for election procedures. “We will work with the National Assembly to harmonise these timelines to remove ambiguity. A clear and consistent electoral timetable will help to build public confidence and reduce post-election disputes,” he said.

The Senate’s confirmation of Amupitan, making him the sixth substantive INEC chairman since 1999, came without dissenting voices after Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote. He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure ended earlier this month.

In his comments, Akpabio described Amupitan as a fit and proper person for the role, noting that security and medical checks had cleared him of any infractions. “We looked at your resume. The DSS and Police have both confirmed that you have no criminal record. You have no known medical issues. You are eminently qualified,” the Senate President said.

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, also praised the nominee’s “intimidating credentials,” urging him to translate his wealth of academic and legal experience into credible elections. Former Plateau State Governor, now Senator Simon Lalong, vouched for Amupitan’s integrity, citing their time together at the University of Jos.

However, the confirmation did not proceed without tension. Some senators, including Solomon Adeola, resisted Akpabio’s attempt to prevent Amupitan from answering questions about BVAS and IReV, a move they said would undermine transparency. Adeola insisted that “Nigerians need clarity on how these technologies will be managed going forward.”

The Senate President, in his post-confirmation remarks, urged Amupitan to focus on restoring credibility and public confidence in elections, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections. Akpabio also decried the conduct of local government polls across the country, which he described as “a sham.”

“The people deserve true representation at all levels. Local government elections in their current form are a disgrace to democracy,” Akpabio said, calling for constitutional and legal reforms to make local polls more credible and independent of state governors’ control.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, INEC has been led by Justice Ephraim Akpata, Dr. Abel Guobadia, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, with Jega widely remembered for overseeing the 2015 transition election.

How I’ll regain Nigerians’ confidence in elections –Amupitan