On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the newly appointed head of the national election body, INEC outlined bold plans for change.
Professor Joash Amupitan, the incoming leader, aims to review past elections and improve future ones.
Audit to Spot Issues
Professor Amupitan announced a full review of the election commission’s operations. He wants to examine the tools and resources used in last year’s national vote.
This step will help uncover problems and find practical fixes with input from key partners. “We need to understand what went wrong,” he said.
Building Trust and Ethics
During a meeting with lawmakers, Amupitan shared his vision. He plans to create an ethics panel to address past concerns.
A new whistleblower system will encourage reporting of wrongdoing. He stressed that trust is key. “We all serve on trust,” he noted. “Every complaint will be investigated thoroughly.”
Strengthening Security and Reach
Amupitan promised better election safety. He intends to use advanced technology, like drones, to deliver materials to remote areas.
“No voter will be left out,” he declared. He will work with security teams to protect every polling site.
New Rules and Education
The leader wants clearer laws on vote counting and result sharing. He plans to suggest changes to ensure fairness.
Voter education will also grow. “We’ll teach people about their rights and duties,” he said. This will help build a stronger democracy.
Fighting Crime and Fraud
Amupitan proposed a special team to handle election crimes. Since the current body lacks this power, he will seek help from lawmakers to set it up.
A whistleblowing policy will also expose fraud. “We need strong tools to catch wrongdoers,” he added.
Clear Timelines and Finances
He aims to simplify election schedules for transparency. “Winners and losers should accept results easily,” he said.
On money matters, Amupitan vowed to follow strict rules. “Funds will go where they’re needed,” he promised, focusing on saving costs too.
As the commission moves forward, these changes aim to make elections fairer and safer.
