Amupitan promises credible poll, adequate security in Ekiti

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has assured the people of Ekiti State that the governorship election scheduled for June 20 will be credible and adequately secured. Speaking in Ado Ekiti to stakeholders, Amupitan stated that INEC is fully prepared logistically, technologically, and operationally to deliver an election that will serve as an "unassailable baseline of credibility."

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INEC is logistically, technologically and operationally prepared to deliver an election that will stand as an unassailable baseline of credibility.

The commission highlighted its commitment to the integrity of voter registers, noting that 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 16 local government areas, 117 wards, and 2,445 polling units. To safeguard the electoral process, INEC will exclusively use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for voter authentication. The chairman emphasized a strict "No PVC, No Accreditation and No Voting" policy, with no exceptions.

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Our immutable legal standard is – No PVC, No Accreditation and No Voting. There will be no bypasses, and there will be no exceptions.

INEC is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to combat vote trading. Personnel at polling units are instructed to prevent "vote-buying and financial inducement." The commission also plans to upload all polling-level results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure public transparency.

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Deployed personnel are under strict instructions to keep the immediate perimeter of our 2,445 polling units completely insulated from the corrosive influence of vote-buying and financial inducement. We shall defend the ballot box from physical violence and fiscal contamination alike.

Furthermore, INEC is enhancing administrative inclusivity by deploying assistive technologies. This includes Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses for persons with albinism and disabilities, reflecting the commission's view that "equity is not an afterthought; it is a necessity." Amupitan urged political leaders to de-escalate rhetoric, noting that security forces have precise orders to decisively address any attempts to disrupt the peace or subvert the election, regardless of the actor's status.

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Simultaneously, we have deliberately elevated our infrastructure for administrative inclusivity. This election will see the practical deployment of assistive technologies – including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism and persons living with disabilities. Equity is not an afterthought; it is a necessity.