Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sworn in a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Adeniran Tella, with the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), issuing a strong directive on transparency and non-negotiable integrity.
The swearing-in ceremony, held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in Abuja, underscored the high stakes involved in maintaining electoral credibility in Nigeria.
Zero Tolerance for Compromise
In his address, Professor Amupitan stressed that delivering “free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections” is not just a regulatory task, but a “moral and legal duty.”
He delivered a stern warning to the new Commissioner regarding the ethical standards expected of the electoral body.
“I must be unequivocal and I admonish you that the integrity of our elections is non-negotiable… Any compromise on our values or our procedures shall not be tolerated,” the Chairman stated.
Professor Amupitan charged Professor Tella to focus relentlessly on transparency, emphasizing the need to strictly adhere to every guideline laid out by the Commission and the Electoral Act.
Combating Rigging and Voter Apathy
The INEC Chairman highlighted the institution’s commitment to combating threats to the electoral process, including “the menace of vote-buying.”
He asserted that the primary goal of the new REC must be to instill public confidence in the electoral process, ensuring that voters believe their choice genuinely counts.
“The public trust placed in INEC is sacred,” Professor Amupitan added, stressing that the conduct of the Commission is the key to addressing challenges such as voter apathy.
Following the oath, Professor Tella was posted to Oyo State to continue his work in upholding democratic values.
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