Fatimah Otunsanya
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the police to stay alert to avert vote-buying and vote trading in the country.
Amupitan spoke when he hosted a delegation from the National Peace Committee in his office yesterday in Abuja.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to curb the menace, saying relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies had been placed on alert to play their role.
He said: “We specifically charged the Nigeria Police, the EFCC, and also the ICPC to be on guard so that we can arrest the menace of vote-buying and what some people call ‘vote trading’.”
Amupitan promised that the INEC would take immediate steps to act on security intelligence and risk assessments presented to it by the National Peace Committee ahead of the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
The INEC chairman described the committee’s presentation as timely and valuable, stressing that the information provided would be carefully reviewed and shared with relevant security agencies for necessary action.
He said: “You have presented to us a great piece of information. We are not going to take it for granted. We are going to be sharing this with our security department so that we can at least take this information and take the necessary steps that we are supposed to take.”
Amupitan announced that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) would get “special scrutiny and attention,” alongside Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, based on the concerns raised.
The INEC chairman described the Peace Accord signed among political parties before elections as a social contract that binds them to peaceful conduct and acceptance of election outcomes.
He added that political activities this year are critical to the commission’s broader preparations for next year’s general election.
Amupitan told the committee that the commission regarded this year “as our preparatory year for the 2027 general election”.
Leader of the delegation, Rev. Atta Barkindo, apologised to INEC for the delay in formally engaging with its new leadership.
He promised the committee’s continued collaboration and strategic support with INEC.
“We want to assure the new INEC chairman that the National Peace Committee is available, open and accessible to working with the commission, ensuring that the elections that will happen – the Area Council elections, the governorship elections, future state elections, ahead of the 2027 general elections — we are fully behind the commission to give it the necessary support and strategic guidance that will be required,” Barkindo said.
The committee’s leader told INEC that its Election Security and Information Hub, launched last year, had developed networks and field agents across the states to gather data on insecurity, violence and conflict trends.