INEC Flags Security Threats And Vote-Buying As Critical In 2027

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stated on Wednesday that one of the Commission’s main concerns is the present insecurity in some areas of the nation, which may prevent some people from exercising their right to vote.

Concerns regarding politicians’ shifting strategies for buying votes and Nigerians’ constant willingness to exchange their votes were also voiced by the INEC chairman.

Speaking on the sidelines of the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Amupitan stated that although Nigerians anticipated a highly efficient electoral system, they must also acknowledge that meeting such standards calls for sufficient funding.

Amupitan said the number one concern of the commission is the issue of security, “because there are still some states in Nigeria that have a lot of insecurity, and it’s a major source of concern for us.

“That can be a source of disenfranchisement of Nigerians, and we don’t want any Nigerian to be disenfranchised. So it’s a top priority for INEC, and we are here to liaise and partner with the Nigerian police, which is the lead agency on election security, so that we can address and strategize towards having elections in those volatile areas”.

Speaking on pre-election matters, the INEC Chairman said, “There are pre-election matters, which are within the province of the courts to adjudicate if there is a dispute over the primaries, and most of them are already in the courts.

“It is very clear from the Electoral Act that in such cases, it’s the court that has the decision. But mind you, it has to be litigated all the way to the final court. So that is just a concern.

“But you know elections are contested by political parties, not candidates. So at the end of the day, that does not stop elections from being properly conducted for the political party, and whatever decision comes out at the end of the day, INEC will abide by it.”

“Beyond that, we are also trying to have a form of a giant task force by bringing in everybody on the same platform, including the Federal Minister of Justice, the Attorney General’s office, the instrumentality of ICCES, to ensure that we tackle it collectively because we don’t have powers to arrest them. We don’t have the power to investigate.”

“But so long as people are waiting to be bought or to trade, then it will still become a viable business. But you saw what happened in some places now. As far as INEC is concerned, we’ll do our own bit, ensure that logistics are right in terms of result management, improve on what has gone wrong, and ensure that we have a very successful election.”

Speaking on what to expect in the 2027 elections, he said, “The way the elections are conducted now in this country should be enough to ensure that people’s confidence is back. We have tried to be transparent about what we have done so far.

“We have managed the logistics to a large extent. We have done like five off-cycle elections, and you heard me say none of them has been inconclusive. So, as much as possible, we are trying to improve; every election is a lesson.

“We started with the Anambra election; we learned some things from Anambra, and what we learned from Anambra, we ensured that it did not repeat in the election of FCT, and what we got from FCT, we also took enough safeguards. So we’ve done a lot, and just like some people were saying, Oh, Osun is going to be this, Osun is going to be that, Osun is going to bring down the country. But we did everything possible, because Nigerians are waiting to be sure the election is transparent.

“So as much as possible, we are determined to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in 2027.”

On the election campaign, he said, “The campaign should be based on issues, not on personality. What we are seeing is due to a lack of political tolerance. So in some ways, we’re trying to take some measures to ensure that parties are brought back. Elections should not be a do-or-die. Elections should be based on issues and not campaigns of calumny and denigration.

“The fact that we have not been, even if we give all agents circulars every day, you know, we are working with the law enforcement agencies to ensure that there are offences under the Act, under the Electoral Act. So we’re trying to ensure that those who are guilty are arrested, investigated, and even prosecuted.

“It is the responsibility of the police. So that is part of why I decided to come here, you know, to also talk about it. You heard me speaking about it during the panel discussion.”

Security is of utmost importance in ensuring a stable and peaceful society. Protecting the safety of citizens and safeguarding their lives should always be a top priority. A secure environment not only fosters development but also builds trust in the electoral process. Additionally, people must recognize the value of their votes and exercise wisdom by refusing to sell them. Making informed and principled choices is essential for the progress and future of the nation.