The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has assured voters in Ekiti State that their votes will count in the June 20 governorship election, while taking a hard line on vote-buying.

Amupitan described vote buying as a criminal offence that must be met with immediate arrest and prosecution.

He gave the assurance on Wednesd bra governorship election as a benchmark, Amupitan said, “I want to assure you that your votes will count. Let me give the example of the Anambra State election.

“That was the first election that was conducted under my watch, and I want to report that the number of voters that turned out increased significantly, and because the election was peaceful, it was transparent, it was fair and free, and there was no any dispute about the election.”

On the voters register, he said, “The voters register is the foundation upon which free, fair, and credible elections are built. Its accuracy, completeness and integrity are paramount to ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard and that the will of the people is accurately reflected. Today we stand here to present to you a comprehensive and meticulously compiled voters register prepared after a rigorous data collection, total verification, and diligent cleaning exercise.”

Amupitan was emphatic that the conduct of credible elections was a shared responsibility, urging political parties to mobilise registered voters to participate on election day.

“It is the responsibility of INEC to comply and perform its statutory duties under the constitution, including the conduct of elections, registration of voters, publications and presentations of voters register. It is the responsibility of political parties to also mobilize this register voters to come out and vote on the day of the election.

“Our collective commitment to transparency, trust and adherence to democratic principles will determine the success of this election. Let us work together in the spirit of fairness, integrity, and patriotism to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process in Ekiti State,” he added.

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On vote-buying, the INEC boss was unsparing, saying, “This is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act and it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies, most especially the EFCC, the ICPC and the police to ensure that those who are involved in it are arrested and promptly prosecuted. It is the responsibility of INEC to prosecute. Therefore, we urge all political parties to please refrain from this issue of vote trading because it is a big minus to the electoral process in Nigeria.”

He also advised that campaigns must be based on issues rather than personality or nepotism.

Speaking earlier, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Lagos, Ekiti and Oyo states, Sam Olumekun, said the presentation of the voters register reflected the commission’s commitment to producing “a register that is accurate, credible, and inclusive,” adding that the event gave political parties, accredited observers and citizens an opportunity “to inspect, verify, and raise any further objections within the window provided by law.”

“I want to assure all stakeholders that INEC remains bound by the principles of neutrality, transparency and fidelity to all legal provisions and remains committed to ensuring the conduct of credible, free, fair and inclusive elections at all times. No eligible voter has been disenfranchised, and no ineligible name will be allowed in the Voter Register. The Register we present today is the register we will use on 20th June, 2026,” Olumekun said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, encouraged political parties to make effective and lawful use of the register and appealed for continued peaceful conduct as the election approaches.

“As we move closer to the election date, I wish to appeal to all political parties, candidates and their supporters to continue to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly.

“The success of the election depends on our collective commitment to democratic values, peaceful engagement and strict compliance with the Electoral Act and guidelines issued by the Commission. Ekiti State is known for political maturity and democratic participation, and we must all work together to sustain that reputation before, during and after the election,” Omoseyindemi said.

The Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, is shaping up as one of the most closely watched electoral contests in the South-West this year. (The PUNCH)

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