By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Determined to get the 2027 general election right, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has read the riot act to the staff of the nation’s elections management body to shape up or ship out.
This is even as he has admonished the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to warn the staff under their jurisdiction that “excellence is not optional; it is mandatory.”
Amupitan gave this charge at the meeting with RECs from the 36 states of the federation, including the new REC of Abia state Dr. Chukwu Chukwuemeka Joseph and the REC of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in
Abuja on Wednesday at INEC Conference Room.
Speaking to the RECs in the presence of the members of the Executive Committee of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON), who paid him a courtesy visit, the INEC boss said the expectations of Nigerians are high going into the off circle governorship elections
in Ekiti and Osun states, and ultimately the 2027 general election.
Said he: “This meeting affords us the opportunity to reflect honestly on our processes, identify areas requiring improvement and take decisive action as we prepare for the forthcoming Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, and ultimately the 2027 General Election.”
Amupitan therefore said the Commission cannot afford to disappoint the citizens and the international community, pointing out that every election is both a test and a teacher.
He stated that the FCT Area Council election and the State Constituencies elections in Kano State and Rivers State held last weekend have once again provided INEC with lessons with some reassuring and others sobering.
“This meeting affords us the opportunity to reflect honestly on our processes, identify areas requiring improvement and take decisive action as we prepare for the forthcoming Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, and ultimately the 2027 General Election”, Amupitan told the RECs
Commenting on some of fallouts of the FCT Area Councils Election, the INEC boss reiterated the Commission’s earlier explanations that the migration of some voters from the crowded polling units to new one was not done by the INEC under his watch but was done in 2022.
He lamented that despite his directives that his staff send out notices and message in different platforms and display of voters register, many voters still claim that they did not get to see their new polling units and promised to rectify it.
Said he: “Our policies may be sound. Our intentions may be noble. But if citizens do not understand our processes, then the objective is only half achieved.
“I therefore direct all Resident Electoral Commissioners to intensify voter education and sensitisation in your respective states. Voter awareness must not be episodic. It must be continuous.
“Citizens must be encouraged to verify their polling unit details well ahead of elections, including through the Commission’s online Polling Unit Locator”.
Speaking specifically on the FCT Area Councils election, Amupitan commended the generally peaceful conduct of the FCT election in all the polling units and in Kano and Rivers State constituencies.
He insists that no violence was recorded during the voting exercise and commended the security agencies for this feat.
Said he: “However, we must admit the ugly incident that occurred in Kuje Area Council, where the Kuje Central Collation Centre was invaded by thugs during collation and also at another Collation centre in Kwali Area Council.
“The ugly incident was squarely addressed, and the results were finally collated without much ado. Elections must be peaceful, not by accident, but by deliberate planning and coordination.”
Meanwhile, Amupitan has assured members of FOSIECON that INEC is open for collaboration to get elections in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) right for the overall benefits of Nigerians.
“Let me warmly welcome the Executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON). Your presence here underscores the commitment we all share to the integrity and progress of our electoral processes throughout Nigeria.
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