Professor Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, received a delegation from the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies at the commission headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Mike Ejiofor, the president of the association, led the group. The visit formed part of preparations for the association’s second annual lecture titled “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria.”
Professor Joash Amupitan welcomed the visitors and described the lecture theme as timely. He stated that credible elections formed the foundation of democracy.
“Credible elections are the bedrock of our democracy and their integrity directly impacts on our national security,” he said. Moreover he explained that peaceful conditions remained essential for success.
Professor Joash Amupitan added that free, fair and credible polls could not occur without peace. “For us in INEC, a free, fair and credible election cannot happen if it is not peaceful,” he declared. Furthermore, he urged security agencies, policymakers and stakeholders to collaborate closely.
“It is therefore imperative that security agencies, policymakers and stakeholders work in harmony to uphold transparency, fairness and security during every electoral cycle,” he emphasised.
Professor Joash Amupitan noted that credible elections stayed the commission’s top priority as Nigeria deepened its democracy. “As Nigeria continues to deepen its democratic processes, ensuring credible elections remains our foremost priority,” he said.
“We recognise that a secure environment is foundational for the success of our electoral processes and ultimately for Nigeria’s progress,” he stated. He also reaffirmed that INEC would continue to work with partners through innovative methods and strong collaborations.
