Can Amupitan change the course of elections in Nigeria?

For decades, Nigerians have approached election seasons with a mixture of hope, anxiety and skepticism. The questions are often the same: Will election materials arrive on time? Will the results be manipulated during transmission? Will the end result reflect the wishes of the community? Can election referees withstand pressure from political actors?

These concerns are increasingly ingrained in the country’s democratic culture after years of election disputes, delays in counting election results, logistical failures and accusations of electoral malpractice. As a result, public confidence in the electoral process has suffered repeated setbacks, making electoral credibility one of the most important challenges facing Nigerian democracy.

However, the recent elections conducted under the leadership of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, indicate that significant changes may be underway.

The holding of gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, along with six by-elections held simultaneously in various regions of the country, has sparked a new national conversation on the future of elections in Nigeria. Apart from the election results themselves, what attracted widespread attention was the professionalism, transparency, efficiency and speed of implementation and completion of the elections.

For many observers, this election is another important milestone in the electoral revolution that is slowly taking place under the leadership of Professor Amupitan.

New Standards Emerge

One of the most remarkable features of the Ekiti gubernatorial election was the smooth dissemination of election materials and personnel across the state.

From urban centers to remote areas, reports show that poll workers arrived early, accreditation began on schedule, and voting took place with minimal disruption. The same level of organization was visible in the six bye-elections held simultaneously in various states.

In previous elections, logistical challenges were often the first source of controversy. Delays in the arrival of materials often lead to voter frustration, extended voting times, and accusations of manipulation. But this time the narrative is very different.

Election observers, civil society groups, political stakeholders and lay voters acknowledged a marked improvement in operational efficiency.

But perhaps the most significant achievement was not just the holding of the vote itself but also what happened afterwards.

IReV and the Triumph of Transparency

One of the harshest criticisms of previous elections in Nigeria centered on the gap between polling station results and the final declaration.

The introduction of the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) is designed to address this issue by enabling polling station results to be uploaded and viewed in near real-time.

Under Professor Amupitan’s leadership, the system appears to be achieving its intended goals.

During Ekiti elections and by-elections, polling station results are immediately uploaded, allowing political parties, election observers, journalists and the public to monitor the process independently.

Also read: Former Governor Okowa visits EFCC amid ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities

The rapid availability of results significantly reduces speculation, rumors and unnecessary tension.

More importantly, it strengthens public confidence as Nigerians can compare the uploaded polling station results with the officially announced results.

Transparency, however, is not just about honesty; it’s about creating a system that allows citizens to verify their own honesty.

Efficient implementation of IReV achieves this.

Speed ​​Without Sacrificing Credibility

Historically, prolonged inspection periods have often created fertile ground for suspicion and controversy.

The longer election results remain in circulation, the greater the concern and possibility of misinformation filling the void.

The elections in Ekiti demonstrated a different approach.

Results are collected efficiently, delivered promptly and announced within a reasonable timeframe.

The announcement of the election winner was carried out without prolonged uncertainty as happened in many previous elections.

What is interesting is that the speed with which the results were announced did not come at the expense of credibility.

On the contrary, it complements transparency.

Because the results have been uploaded and viewed via the IReV system, stakeholders can follow the process virtually from the TPS, examination center to the final announcement.

This strengthens confidence in the integrity of the process.

Stakeholder Decisions

Perhaps the strongest validation of the election’s success came not from INEC itself but from the reactions of stakeholders.

Political actors, election observers, civil society organizations and many voters acknowledged progress in holding elections.

The level of acceptance after the election is noteworthy.

While no electoral process anywhere in the world can claim absolute perfection, the absence of widespread disputes over the delivery of results, drafting or declarations represents a major departure from the controversies that often accompany elections in Nigeria.

This growing sense of self-confidence is important because democracy thrives not only when elections are held, but also when people trust the process through which leaders will emerge.

Trust remains the most valuable currency in any electoral system.

The Continuous Challenge of Buying and Selling Votes

However, a generally positive assessment of the election does not mean all challenges have disappeared.

It is true that one major concern continues to emerge during the Ekiti gubernatorial election.

The concern is vote buying.

Reports and allegations of voter inducement by political actors emerged from several locations.

But it is important to put responsibility where it belongs.

Although INEC is responsible for organizing, supervising and administering elections, the Commission is not a law enforcement agency.

Responsibility for investigating, preventing and prosecuting acts of vote buying lies primarily with security agencies and other relevant institutions authorized by law.

What is no less important is the role of political parties and politicians themselves.

No election law can eliminate the practice of buying and selling votes if political actors continue to view elections as financial transactions and not as democratic contestation.

Likewise, citizens must realize that selling their votes will ultimately damage their own future.

When voters exchange their ballots for financial gain, this undermines accountability and reduces the quality of governance.

Therefore, the fight against vote buying must be a shared national responsibility.

Democracy Is a Shared Responsibility

One lesson from the recent elections is that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system cannot rest solely on INEC.

There is often a tendency to place the entire burden of electoral success or failure on the Commission.

This approach ignores the fact that elections involve many stakeholders.

Political parties must behave responsibly.

Candidates must campaign issue by issue, not rely on persuasion and manipulation.

Security agencies must remain professional and impartial.

The media must report accurately and responsibly.

Civil society organizations must continue to monitor this process constructively.

Most importantly, citizens must protect the sanctity of their voices.

Even the most efficient election commission cannot guarantee a credible election if other participants fail to carry out their responsibilities.

Democracy will succeed when every stakeholder plays their role.

Maintaining Amupitan Reform

The electoral improvements seen in Anambra State, and now reinforced in Ekiti and the six by-elections, show that a new culture in election administration is gradually taking root.

The challenge now is sustainability.

Electoral reforms will only be meaningful if they are institutionalized and not driven by personalities.

Nigerians should therefore support efforts aimed at strengthening transparency, increasing the application of technology, improving logistics and increasing public confidence in the electoral process.

Political actors, in particular, have a very important responsibility.

Rather than attacking institutions when the results are unfavorable, they should contribute to strengthening those institutions.

Constructive engagement, rather than constant confrontation, offers a more productive path to democratic consolidation.

Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan’s leadership has demonstrated that elections can be held efficiently, transparently and credibly in Nigeria’s complex political environment.

The holding of the Ekiti gubernatorial election and six by-elections has provided encouraging evidence that progress can be achieved.

However, maintaining and expanding this progress requires cooperation from all stakeholders.

The Way Forward

Nigeria’s democratic journey is still ongoing.

No election is perfect. No institution is perfect. No reform was completed.

But recent elections provide reason for cautious optimism.

This shows that when institutions function well, when technology is applied effectively, and when professionalism guides decision making, public trust can be rebuilt.

The electoral culture that has emerged under Professor Amupitan’s leadership deserves recognition, not because it has solved every problem, but because it shows that improvements can be made.

The future of Nigeria’s democracy will ultimately depend not only on what INEC does but also on what political parties, candidates, security agencies and citizens choose.

The electoral revolution has begun.

But its success will depend on whether Nigerians collectively decide to defend it.