The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, on Tuesday administered the oath of office to Prof Adeniran Tella as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Oyo State for a second tenure.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, Amupitan issued a stern charge on professionalism, integrity and strict adherence to electoral guidelines.
He described the swearing-in as “a solemn call to duty,” stressing that his own tenure as INEC Chairman is anchored on delivering “free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections” that truly reflect the will of Nigerians.
The INEC Chairman reminded the new REC that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process rests heavily on field leadership, warning that any compromise on values or procedures “shall not be tolerated.”
Amupitan urged Tella to operate with full transparency, obey all provisions of the Electoral Act, and help restore public confidence in the system.
“We are resolved to combat all forms of election rigging, including vote-buying. The public trust placed in INEC is sacred,” he stated.
While announcing the osting of Tella back to Oyo State, the INEC Chairman charged him to work closely with staff and stakeholders to make the state “a beacon of hope and democratic values,” adding that integrity in election management is key to reversing voter apathy and deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking shortly after his swearing-in, Tella pledged to raise the bar of election management in the state, vowing total commitment to transparency, professionalism and strict adherence to electoral laws.
He said his long years in public administration and election oversight have prepared him for the task ahead, noting that Oyo must remain a model for credible elections.
He assured stakeholders that under his watch, every stage of the electoral process will reflect integrity and respect for the will of the people.
The REC outlined key priority areas, including strengthened voter education, improved engagement with political parties, observers and the media, and rigorous training and monitoring of election officials to guarantee neutrality.
Tella also emphasized full implementation of INEC’s Result Management System, stressing that real-time transmission and public display of polling unit results would be non-negotiable.
He disclosed plans to enhance the performance of BVAS devices, improve logistics for hard-to-reach communities, and reinforce cybersecurity to counter threats targeting election data.
He also expressing gratitude to the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners, noting that credible elections remain the foundation of democracy.
