Nigeria’s newly confirmed Chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has pledged to construct a people-focused, technology-driven electoral system that leaves “no voter behind.”
He stated the Fee would deploy drones the place essential to achieve distant areas throughout elections.
Showing earlier than the Senate for his affirmation on Thursday, Amupitan outlined an formidable roadmap to reform Nigeria’s electoral course of by way of logistics overhaul, expertise innovation, moral accountability, and civic schooling.
“No voter can be left behind,” he declared. “We’ll put money into logistics and expertise, and, the place essential, deploy drones with enough safeguards, to make sure elections are carried out easily throughout Nigeria.”
The regulation professor, recognized for his reformist views, recognized logistics as a significant weak point in earlier elections and promised to repair the chain that has repeatedly undermined credibility.
“We rely too closely on third-party transporters. Automobiles break down, supplies are delayed, and presiding officers are stranded. We should rethink that mannequin, maybe construct an inside transport system for election logistics,” he stated.
He assured that INEC would conduct a complete audit of its expertise and infrastructure to make sure reliability and safety.
On the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Consequence Viewing Portal (IReV), Amupitan stated each had been “supposed to be recreation changers” however fell brief as a consequence of poor configuration and coordination.
“There was no readability as to the precise goal of BVAS and IReV till the Supreme Court docket clarified that IReV was not an digital collation system,” he stated.
“If confirmed, I’ll first conduct a full audit of INEC’s methods to find out what went incorrect and whether or not now we have the required infrastructure.”
He emphasised collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) and the Nationwide Info Expertise Growth Company (NITDA) to boost community reliability and knowledge safety.
“INEC can not do it alone. Expertise should encourage confidence, not confusion,” he stated.
The brand new chairman additionally introduced plans to determine an Inside Ethics and Compliance Committee to watch employees behaviour and guarantee accountability.
“We want an inside mechanism that may monitor human behaviour,” he stated. “Those that compromise the method can be sanctioned. Elections are solely as credible because the individuals who conduct them.”
Amupitan additionally vowed to implement transparency in INEC’s funds and procurement processes.
“Each kobo launched to INEC can be used strictly for its supposed goal,” he stated. “Our expenditures can be open to scrutiny. Nigerians should understand how their assets are utilized in safeguarding democracy.”
On voter registration, he pledged to decentralize and digitize the method, making it extra accessible and seamless.
“With supportive expertise, we are able to make registration simpler and eradicate long-standing bottlenecks,” he stated.
He additionally recognized civic schooling as central to credible elections.
“We’ll undertake aggressive civic and voter schooling throughout the nation,” he stated. “When folks perceive the method, they’re empowered to take part absolutely and freely. An knowledgeable voters is much less prone to be manipulated.”
Responding to questions from senators, Amupitan careworn equity and transparency in employees appointments and stated politically related people could be disqualified the place bias was obvious.
On whether or not college lecturers ought to proceed to function returning officers, he stated he would assessment stories from earlier elections earlier than making a call.
He additionally promised to assessment election prices and strengthen collaboration with safety businesses underneath a clearly outlined code of conduct to forestall overreach.
“Transmission of ends in actual time is fascinating and attainable,” he stated. “What we’d like is management will, infrastructure, and a safe technological spine.”
After hours of screening, the Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment. Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Amupitan’s composure and grasp of electoral points, describing the session as reflective of Nigerians’ deep issues about democracy.
“Distinguished colleagues characterize thousands and thousands of Nigerians who participated within the final elections. Their issues are legitimate. What Nigerians wish to know is whether or not issues will change underneath your management,” Akpabio stated.
He additionally urged the brand new INEC Chairman to work with lawmakers to reform native authorities elections, which he described because the weakest hyperlink in Nigeria’s democratic system.
“This winner-takes-all syndrome on the native degree should cease,” Akpabio stated. “Now that native governments get pleasure from monetary independence, they have to additionally get pleasure from electoral independence.”
Prof. Amupitan’s affirmation comes amid rising public skepticism about Nigeria’s electoral establishments. His pledge to anchor INEC on expertise, ethics, transparency, and civic belief has raised cautious optimism.
“We’re taking this place on belief,” he stated in his closing remarks. “We owe Nigerians an electoral course of they’ll consider in.”
As Nigeria appears to be like forward to future elections, Amupitan’s promise — of drones, self-discipline, and digital transformation — could effectively decide whether or not the nation can lastly obtain an electoral system that really counts each vote and leaves no citizen behind.
