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Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, has admitted that the commission is facing a trust deficit from Nigerians.
He promised to do all within his powers to erase such wrong impression, restore the trust of the people by ensuring a free, fair and credible elections come 2027.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Friday while addressing INEC Staff in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital shortly after inspection of the Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, (CVR) exercise in some local governments of the state.
He also announced that INEC will collaborate with National Population Commission and other relevant agencies to track Nigerians that are of registrable age and ensure they take advantage of the CVR exercise.
According to him, ” As we build up to 2027, I want to announce that we are in it together to serve Nigeria and strengthen democracy. Though INEC is already having trust deficit. So, whatever we are doing in Abuja, we have to cascade it here. We should work hard to restore the trust. We know state congresses are ongoing and some of you are part of it, please any activity you are handling, do it with every honesty and utmost courtesy.
“What you are doing today will determine the 2027 elections, if you want to determine the future, you create it. What we owe Nigerians is free, fair and credible elections, let their expectations be met. We want Nigerians to begin to believe in INEC, that whoever emerges is the will of the people.
The Chairman also said the commission will be embarking on Voters Revalidation exercise so as to have the accurate data of those eligible to vote, adding, ‘those who have died or whose names are not supposed to be in the register will be removed. The register should be sanitized.”
He also charged all INEC staff to join in creating awareness about the ongoing Voter registration and not to leave it for only the Voter Education and publicity unit alone. “Encourage and galvanize them to come out while assuring them that their votes will count.” He said
Earlier, at the inspection, the chairman received some complaints in Ikot Ekpene about network challenge and login problems which he assured would be addressed.
While expressing joy about the turnout of young people for the registration exercise, Amupitan called for more voter education even as he charged the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga to use more youths for voter registration awareness.
Speaking, the REC, Effanga thanked the Chairman for making out time to visit the polling units and interacting with the staff of the commission in the state even as he promised to work diligently to ensure they deliver on their mandate come 2027.
2027: INEC working hard to erase trust deficit of Nigerians – Amupitan
