INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan vows to fight vote-buying and ensure credible, transparent elections in Oyo State under new REC Professor Adeniran Tella
Professor Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday in Abuja pledged that the commission will tackle all forms of election rigging, with particular emphasis on vote-buying, as he swore in Professor Adeniran Tella as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State.
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Amupitan urged Professor Tella to uphold professionalism and integrity in all his duties, stressing that free, fair, and transparent elections are both a legal and moral imperative for the commission.
“The credibility of Nigeria’s elections depends on the actions of RECs across the country. Integrity in election management is non-negotiable,” he said, warning that any misconduct, deliberate or accidental, will not be tolerated.
The INEC chairman encouraged the new REC to assure voters in Oyo State that their votes genuinely matter, reiterating that the commission is committed to ending rigging and vote-buying. “The eyes of the nation are on us. The public trust in INEC is sacred,” he added.
Amupitan also called on Professor Tella to collaborate closely with INEC staff to make Oyo State a model of integrity and democratic values.
He noted that restoring public trust in elections is crucial for reducing voter apathy and addressing long-standing electoral challenges.
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Professor Tella’s appointment marks a key step in INEC’s efforts to strengthen election oversight in Oyo State, with heightened scrutiny expected ahead of upcoming elections.
