INEC Assures Ekiti of Fair Election and Strong Security

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured the people of Ekiti on Thursday that the governorship election on June 20 would be fair.

Amupitan said, "INEC is logistically, technologically and operationally prepared to deliver an election that will stand as an unassailable baseline of credibility. A credible election is built upon the integrity of its voter registers."

He made this statement in Ado Ekiti while speaking to stakeholders about the commission's readiness for the election.

He mentioned that there are 1,059,360 registered voters who can cast their votes across 16 local government areas, covering 117 wards and 2,445 polling units.

He said, "To secure the sanctity of the ballot, the Commission is deploying its full suite of technological safeguards. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be the sole instrument for voter authentication and accreditation."

"Our immutable legal standard is, No PVC, No Accreditation and No Voting. There will be no bypasses, and there will be no exceptions."

He also shared that the commission is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to prevent vote trading.

He noted, "Deployed personnel are under strict instructions to keep the immediate perimeter of our 2,445 polling units completely insulated from the corrosive influence of vote-buying and financial inducement. We shall defend the ballot box from physical violence and fiscal contamination alike."

According to him, all results from polling units will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure public transparency.

Amupitan said, "Simultaneously, we have deliberately elevated our infrastructure for administrative inclusivity. This election will see the practical deployment of assistive technologies, including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism and persons living with disabilities. Equity is not an afterthought; it is a necessity."

He called on political leaders to tone down their rhetoric, saying, "The Commission, working in absolute cohesion with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, has mapped every localised vulnerability, including specific risks related to political thuggery, cultism, or attempted ballot disruption in known areas in the state."

"Security forces have been given clear orders to deal decisively with any individual, no matter their status, who tries to disrupt peace or test our collective resolve."

Amupitan stated that INEC aims to activate all 2,445 polling units at exactly 8:30 am on Election Day. He said the logistics plan is in place, adding that arrangements with transporters are being finalised to ensure smooth movement of personnel and materials.

He told political parties, candidates, and Ekiti citizens, "The ultimate credibility of our democracy rests upon a shared allegiance to the rule of law. On its part, the INEC remains an independent, completely dispassionate, and impartial arbiter in the discharge of its constitutional mandates."

"We hold no preferred candidates and we answer to no political interest. Our only alignment is with the law and the will of the Nigerian people."

He urged journalists to, "Report what you see with accuracy, with fairness, and with professional discipline. Resist the temptation of sensationalism, reject the inducement of partisanship, and decline every invitation to become an instrument of electoral mischief."

"The Nigerian voter deserves the truth, and only the truth. Report it without fear and without favour," the INEC chairman concluded.

Stakeholders at the meeting included members of political parties, governorship candidates and their deputies, civil society organisations, observers, media practitioners, and INEC officials.