The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has declared the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, assuring residents of a credible, transparent and peaceful voting process.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Ado-Ekiti, Amupitan said all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure the successful conduct of the election. He noted that the commission had completed critical preparations, including the deployment of personnel and the testing of electoral technologies.
According to him, INEC recently conducted a mock accreditation exercise across selected polling units in the state to assess its operational efficiency ahead of election day. He explained that the exercise confirmed the reliability of the commission’s systems, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Amupitan revealed that the BVAS devices performed effectively during the exercise, with voter authentication through fingerprints and facial recognition taking only a few seconds. He added that backup devices and technical support teams had been strategically positioned to swiftly address any technical issues that might arise during the election.
The INEC chairman stressed that the commission was committed to ensuring that voting commenced simultaneously across all polling units as scheduled. He directed electoral officers to guarantee timely deployment of materials and personnel to avoid unnecessary delays.
While expressing confidence in INEC’s preparedness, Amupitan warned against the spread of misinformation and fake news, describing them as major threats to the credibility of the electoral process.
He cautioned political actors, supporters and members of the public against circulating unverified reports, especially unauthorized election results and false information capable of creating panic among voters,Amupitan urged journalists and other stakeholders to promote accurate reporting and contribute to safeguarding the integrity of the election. He reiterated that every valid vote would count and encouraged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the democratic exercise.
As Ekiti residents prepare to head to the polls, INEC has reaffirmed its determination to deliver an election that reflects the will of the people while maintaining public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Amupitan emphasised that misinformation poses a greater threat than technical failures, urging citizens to rely on verified sources for election-related information.
