New INEC Chair Pledges Free, Fair, Credible Polls
The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians of his unwavering commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections across the country.
Speaking during his official assumption of office at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the new chairman pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while introducing reforms to strengthen transparency and voter confidence in the electoral system.
“I stand before Nigerians today with a solemn promise — to uphold the integrity of our electoral process and ensure that every vote counts. The Commission will be guided by fairness, professionalism, and accountability,” he said.
He emphasized that the credibility of any democracy depends on the trust citizens place in its electoral body, adding that INEC under his leadership will remain independent, impartial, and transparent in all its operations.
The INEC boss outlined key priorities for his tenure, including:
- Enhancing the use of technology such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV);
- Expanding voter education and awareness campaigns to boost participation;
- Improving logistics management to prevent delays in election materials and personnel deployment;
- Collaborating with security agencies and stakeholders to safeguard the electoral process.
He also vowed to ensure timely conduct of elections, transparent result collation, and effective prosecution of electoral offenders in partnership with the Electoral Offences Commission once established.
“INEC must not only be fair but must also be seen to be fair. Nigerians deserve an electoral system they can trust,” he added.
In his farewell message, outgoing chairman Prof. Yakubu urged his successor to sustain ongoing reforms and protect the Commission’s independence from political interference.
The new leadership comes as Nigeria prepares for several off-cycle governorship and legislative elections, viewed as a critical test for the Commission’s capacity to conduct credible polls ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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