Integrity of our elections non-negotiable, says, new INEC Chairman, Amupitan declares

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: The caller Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, connected Thursday assumed bureau with a vow to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, describing it arsenic “non-negotiable.”

Speaking astatine the INEC office successful Abuja during his inaugural gathering with directors, soon aft being sworn successful by President Bola Tinubu, Amupitan pledged to present free, just and credible elections that would bespeak the existent volition of Nigerians.

“It is with immense gratitude and a heavy consciousness of work that I basal earlier you contiguous arsenic your caller Chairman. Our mandate is wide – to present free, just and credible elections that bespeak the volition of the Nigerian people.

“The eyes of the federation are upon us, and it is our work to emergence to that occasion. I person conscionable been briefed astir immoderate of the preparations. But arsenic I informed the acting chairman, our preparation, nary substance however bully it whitethorn be, is lone arsenic bully arsenic the practice and enactment we person from the stakeholders, including the politicians and the wide public.

“So the eyes of Nigeria are upon us. Today, I americium earlier you, and I’m emphasizing the request for america to enactment unneurotic successful unity. There should beryllium synergy and collaboration among our assorted units, arsenic I person been informed. Credibility successful our predetermination is paramount, and we indispensable guarantee that each elector feels assured that their ballot volition count. Because that is simply a law task.

“Let america reconstruct the assurance of each elector that whenever determination is an election, their ballot volition count, truthful that we tin code this contented of elector apathy successful our nation. Let america interruption down silos. I indispensable accent that we should not compromise our values oregon processes, arsenic that could person consequences. The integrity of our elections is not adjacent thing we should negotiate”, helium added.

Amupitan, who was accompanied by his household and apical officials from the University of Jos, wherever helium antecedently served, said his enactment would prioritize unit payment and teamwork to execute the commission’s goals.

“For me, unit payment is going to beryllium a priority. We are going to expect truthful overmuch from you, but we indispensable besides springiness truthful overmuch to those we expect overmuch from. We’ll enactment tirelessly to guarantee that moving conditions are conducive and that our unit are equipped with the indispensable resources to excel”, helium said.

The INEC president besides emphasized the request for synergy and collaboration among each departments of the commission, noting that credibility successful elections depends mostly connected interior ratio and corporate responsibility.

He said; “The upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election is not conscionable different electoral exercise. It represents a pivotal accidental to show our committedness to free, fair, and credible elections. The eyes of the federation are upon us, and it is our work to emergence to that occasion”.

Describing his assignment arsenic a divine calling, Amupitan said helium was acceptable to play his relation successful ensuring the commencement of a caller Nigeria anchored connected ideology and transparency.

He said a batch of radical helium met precocious had precocious said they pitied him and did not envy his caller position, but the INEC brag said; “In the places I person gone to, including among immoderate nationalist commissioners, they were saying, ‘I don’t envy you’, but fto maine accidental that I americium excited astir the travel ahead. Together, fto america uphold the values of ideology and enactment tirelessly for the credibility of our elections. The way whitethorn beryllium challenging, but if we basal united, determination is thing we cannot achieve.

“If God says go, who are you to accidental I americium not going? I americium present due to the fact that I person a relation to play to guarantee that a caller Nigeria is birthed, and INEC has a precise important relation successful that quest.”

He thanked the commission’s management, unit and media for their support, assuring them of an inclusive, accountable, and reform-minded leadership.

“Together, fto america uphold the values of ideology and enactment tirelessly for the credibility of our elections. The way whitethorn beryllium challenging, but if we basal unit...