Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has outlined ambitious plans to address longstanding logistical challenges and restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process, including a thorough audit of the controversial IREV portal failures during the 2023 Presidential election.
Speaking on the persistent issues that plagued past elections, Amupitan highlighted the need for enhanced investment in logistics infrastructure. “We can also invest more in logistics to ensure that we can penetrate every part of Nigeria, even if we have to use drones with necessary safeguards, to ensure that those materials reach those places, because no voter will be left behind,” he stated.
Drawing from personal experience, Amupitan recounted the hardships faced during previous polls, emphasizing the human impact of inadequate facilities. “My wife was a collection officer. I had to bring a generator to help them because there was no light. Logistics waste time, and those facilities were not there. If we want to do it, let’s do it well, we will provide the necessary transport logistics,” he added, underscoring his commitment to equipping INEC with reliable power sources, transportation, and remote delivery solutions like drones to reach underserved areas.
Amupitan also pledged transparency in investigating technical mishaps that undermined the 2023 elections. He announced plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of INEC’s systems to pinpoint the causes of glitches in the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), which failed to upload results in real-time and led to widespread erosion of confidence among voters and stakeholders.
If confirmed by the Senate, Amupitan’s reforms could mark a pivotal shift for INEC, aiming to ensure smoother operations in future elections and rebuild faith in Nigeria’s democracy.
