AGAIN, ALL EYES ON AMUPITAN

Professor Joash Amupitan, chair of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is set to oversee elections in seven states on Saturday, a crucial test of his leadership. While he has previously managed the Anambra governorship poll and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, the upcoming June 20 elections are particularly significant as they involve six legislative contests across five zones and the Ekiti State governorship election.

Several legislative seats became vacant due to the death of senators, Okey Ezea in Enugu North, Godiya Akwashiki in Nasarawa North, and Barinada Mpigi in Rivers South-East, and the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo South to take up a UN appointment. Additionally, bye-elections will be held for the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa federal constituency in Kano State and the Zuru constituency in Kebbi State. These elections aim to restore representation to districts that have been without elected officials for months.

The upcoming polls are considered high-risk, not due to their scale, but because bye-elections are often where "the worst habits of our politics tend to hide." With already dismal turnout in general elections, barely over a quarter of registered voters participated in the 2023 presidential contest, bye-elections see even fewer voters. This makes them more susceptible to being influenced by vote-buying, rigging, or intimidation, as fewer eyes are watching.

Amupitan has publicly stressed the importance of credible elections and has identified vote-buying as a major threat to democracy. He has urged security personnel to arrest and prosecute offenders. The challenge lies in ensuring that these smaller, less scrutinized elections are conducted fairly, preventing the "damage that can be done in the shadows where no one is looking."

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He has insisted, again and again, that votes will count. He has named vote-buying and vote-trading as a major threat to the nation’s democracy and has charged the security personnel to arrest and prosecute