Since the day wey them appoint Joash Amupitan as new chairman of INEC, Nigeria don hear serious promise: “Election rigging no go dey tolerated under my watch.”
As Amupitan take seat, e come with strong talk say dem wan restore trust for electoral process, make election for Nigeria dey free, fair and credible. Dem don even swear-in new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for many states, to show say dem mean serious business.
Wetin Amupitan Talk
For Abuja ceremony wen dem swear in new REC for Oyo state, Amupitan yan say: the credibility of election no be joke – na foundation of democracy. He stress say any kind compromise – whether by doing wrong or just allow things happen – no go dey tolerated.
He add say INEC dey ready to face every form of electoral malpractice: rigging, vote-buying, manipulation of result, anything wey fit distort the will of people.
As the Chairman talk, he remind every official wey dey organise election say dem carry heavy responsibility. The values of transparency, fairness and respect for Electoral Act must stand strong.
Why the Promise Matter?
- Fight against Vote-buying and Corruption: For past elections, many Nigerians complain say because some people don share money or gifts before voting, result no dey represent true choice. With this new vow, hope stand say those things go reduce.
- Restore confidence for voters: When people believe say their vote count, more of them go come out come vote. That one fit help reduce apathy and increase participation.
- Pressure for Clean Election Conduct: with top-level promise like this, RECs, ad-hoc staff, security agents and all people involved know say eyes dey on them; that alone fit check temptation to tamper or rig result.
- Less likelihood of post-election crisis: when election dey credible, few people go contest im outcome; which mean say stability for country and less violence after election dey sure.
But Nigerians still dey watch…
Even though the promise sweet, many people still dey look with one eye because:
- Past history plenty – many elections don suffer rigging and manipulation
- Some politicians strong for money-power, influence and dirty politics. Dem fit still try “smart rigging”
- Logistics issues: BVAS machine failed, poor collation system, staff misconduct, bad security – all fit spoil process even if rules dey.
- Implementation na the real test: talk easy, action na wetin really matter!
What we, ordinary people fit do
- Demand transparency: check result publicly, compare tally with what happen for polling unit
- Use social media, civil-society groups, watchers to monitor election day
- Reject vote-buying: no collect money or gifts to sell your vote
- Encourage friends, family and community to vote. If more Nigerians vote for right candidate, rigging no go strong again.
When Amupitan blow horn say “no rigging under my watch”, hope rise for many Nigerians wey don tire for manipulated elections. But make we no just sit and dey hope; make we dey vigilant, participatory and stand for truth. Democracy no be picnic; na responsibility. If both INEC and citizens work together, this new promise fit turn reality.
Nigeria dey observe – time don reach make our vote count speak louder than money or muscle.
