The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reiterated his determination to promote fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process, with the goal of minimising the frequency of post-election disputes.
In an interview with journalists in Awka, Amupitan acknowledged that candidates and political parties have the constitutional right to seek legal redress when dissatisfied with election outcomes.
He explained that his administration at INEC would prioritise credible elections that leave no room for contestants to doubt the process or feel compelled to challenge results in court.
“One of the key principles I want to strengthen in Nigeria is electoral justice — where if you lose, you clearly know you have lost,” he stated.
According to him, once people are convinced that elections are conducted fairly and transparently, there will be less incentive to file petitions or court cases.
Amupitan noted that although citizens have the right to seek justice, achieving a system that guarantees fairness would reduce unnecessary litigation.
He said, “Even though no election is ever perfect, our aim is to attain near perfection so that courts will not have cause to overturn credible results.”
The INEC chairman stressed the need for all stakeholders to adhere strictly to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC regulations, to ensure elections that withstand judicial scrutiny.
He also highlighted the high financial cost of election petitions, stating that reducing avoidable litigations would save both candidates and the nation valuable resources.
Amupitan further disclosed that the commission was proposing legal reforms to discourage frivolous election cases, including imposing penalties on those who waste court time.
He said INEC would also enhance its operational systems, logistics, and inclusivity—especially for Persons with Disabilities—to improve the overall credibility of elections.
“Our focus is on building trust and strengthening the entire electoral process so that Nigerians will have full confidence in the system,” Amupitan concluded.