Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday vowed a tougher crackdown on election rigging—including vote-buying—while swearing in Prof. Adeniran Tella as a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

Speaking in Abuja, Amupitan described the ceremony as a solemn reminder of the weight of public trust. He urged Tella to uphold INEC’s core values of transparency, professionalism and strict compliance with the Electoral Act.

He said his tenure began with a clear mandate “to deliver free, fair, credible and inclusive elections,” adding that the strength of Nigeria’s democracy rests on the integrity of the electoral system.

The INEC chairman warned that the Commission would not tolerate any compromises.

“The credibility of our electoral system is the very foundation upon which our democracy stands. Your role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner is absolutely critical,” he said.
“Any compromise on our values or our procedures shall not be tolerated. Any misconduct, whether by omission or commission, shall not be accepted.”

Amupitan added that the nation’s trust in INEC is “sacred,” stressing that the Commission is determined to curb manipulations and clamp down on vote-buying.

He urged Tella to work collaboratively with INEC staff to restore public faith in elections, saying such credibility is essential to reversing voter apathy.

He announced that Tella has been posted to Oyo State and is expected to assume duty immediately.

Responding, Tella expressed gratitude for the swift process and said the Commission’s direction reflects “total transformation” aligned with global best practices.
Drawing from his experience in public administration and election management, he pledged to uphold professionalism, fairness and transparency.