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By Tracy Moses
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for strict enforcement of electoral laws against vote buying, insisting that offenders must be arrested and prosecuted in line with the provisions of the law.
Amupitan made the call on Wednesday while presenting the voters’ register to political parties in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20 governorship election, warning that vote buying remains one of the most serious threats to Nigeria’s democratic process.
He urged security agencies to take decisive action against those involved in vote trading, stressing that the practice is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act.
“I also want to reiterate that one of the major challenges and constraints of our electoral process is the issue of vote buying or vote trading,” he said.
“This is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act and it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, especially the EFCC, the ICPC and the police, to ensure that those that are involved in it are arrested and promptly prosecuted.”
The INEC Chairman also cautioned political parties against engaging in vote trading, describing it as a major setback to democratic consolidation in the country.
“It is the responsibility of INEC to prosecute. Therefore, we urge all political parties to please refrain from this issue of vote trading because it is a big minus to the electoral process in Nigeria,” he added.
Amupitan explained that the presentation of the voters’ register formed part of INEC’s constitutional and statutory obligations ahead of the off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State.
“We are performing a constitutional and statutory duty of the publication and presentation of the voters’ register for Ekiti State preparatory to the off-cycle governorship election coming up in a month’s time,” he said.
He noted that the Electoral Act requires INEC to publish and present the register to political parties at least 30 days before an election.
“The Electoral Act requires that 30 days before the election, the register of voters must be published and presented to political parties. It is with a great sense of responsibility and commitment that I stand before you today,” he said.
Amupitan stressed that the voters’ register remains the foundation of credible elections, adding that INEC had undertaken rigorous verification and updating processes to ensure its accuracy and integrity.
“The voters’ register is the foundation upon which free, fair and credible elections are built. Its accuracy, completeness and integrity are paramount to ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard,” he said.
According to him, the Ekiti State register has been updated following the continuous voters’ registration exercise, which added thousands of new voters to the existing database.
“In the 2023 election, we had about 900,000 voters registered in Ekiti State. But as a result of the continuous voters’ registration, the number has increased to about 1,059,660, which represents an addition of about 66,000 new voters,” he stated.
He added that INEC had concluded all necessary preparations for the election in line with legal requirements, assuring stakeholders of transparency and credibility.
“We have satisfied all the provisions of the Electoral Act by updating and including newly registered voters together with previous records,” he said.
The INEC Chairman urged political parties to scrutinise the voters’ register and raise objections where necessary within the legally provided window.
“As political parties, your role in safeguarding the integrity of this process cannot be overstated. We urge you to review the register diligently and report any discrepancies promptly,” he said.
He emphasised that the success of the election would depend on the collective responsibility of INEC, political parties, and security agencies.
“INEC cannot do it alone. It is a shared responsibility. Political parties must mobilise voters, while INEC ensures credible elections,” he said.
Amupitan also expressed optimism about improved voter participation, citing previous elections as evidence of growing public confidence in the electoral process.
“I want to assure you that your vote will count. In Anambra, turnout increased significantly because the election was peaceful, transparent, free and fair,” he said.
He further disclosed that INEC would, on Thursday, sign a peace accord with political parties ahead of the Ekiti governorship election.
“By tomorrow, we shall be signing a peace accord, which is a social contract among political parties that the election must be peaceful and campaigns must be based on issues, not personalities,” he said.
Also speaking, National Commissioner supervising Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, said the presentation of the register was part of INEC’s commitment to transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
He assured that no eligible voter had been disenfranchised, adding that the Commission remained committed to neutrality and fairness.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, also assured that the state was fully prepared for the election, while urging stakeholders to maintain peace as the polls draw near.