As the governorship election in Anambra commenced, voters began casting their votes to determine a new governor who will oversee the state’s affairs for the next four years. Sixteen candidates, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, are competing for the highest political office in the state, with the four-year tenure of Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance expected to end in March 2026.

However, this election is not only about the candidates alone. The process is a defining moment for the new INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan. His emergence at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body came amid heightened public expectations for transparent polls and institutional integrity in the country.

Many Nigerians see the Anambra election as the first real measure of Mr Amupitan’s leadership, and a test of whether or not the new INEC boss can walk his words to rebuild the trust the commission steadily lost under the previous administration.

Under the watch of former chairman Mahmood Yakubu, the commission’s performance vacillated between commendable improvements in logistics and disturbing inconsistencies, particularly in terms of result management. While Mr Yakubu supervised the introduction of important technological tools, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Result Viewing Portal (IReV), several elections he superintended were marred by allegations of manipulation, voter suppression, and administrative lapses.

Despite several promises of credibility and transparency, the 2023 general elections left most Nigerians disillusioned after unnecessary delays in result uploads and reports of irregularities across key states, raising questions about the commission’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible polls.

Aside from this, Mr Yakubu’s tenure as INEC boss was characterized by the phenomenon of inconclusive elections, highlighting the indecisiveness of the electoral body. Notable examples in this regard are the 2015 Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections, the 2018 Osun election, and the 2019 Kano rerun, all of which were declared inconclusive due to logistical shortfalls and alleged violence.

These instances, among others, contributed to the erosion of voter confidence while raising questions about the umpire’s independence and competence. In addition, Nigerians were forced to accuse INEC of using inconclusiveness as a convenient mechanism to facilitate the manipulation of election outcomes, especially in keenly contested polls.

In this regard, the Anambra gubernatorial election is an opportunity and a trial for the new INEC boss. As expected in every election in Nigeria, the political atmosphere in Anambra is already tense, with heightened security concerns and intense rivalry among the top contenders.

Hence, Mr Amupitan’s first sacred responsibility is to ensure that no political party or candidate feels disadvantaged by the commission’s actions or omissions. The commission is committed to upholding transparency, timely communication, and efficient logistics as key benchmarks.

Additionally, Mr Amupitan must change the narrative by ensuring the functionality of BVAS across polling units, the real-time transmission of results to IReV, and the prompt resolution of complaints arising from the process. This is necessary, at the very least, to redeem voters’ trust in the commission, because any technical glitch or delay could easily be perceived as bias or manipulation.

Additionally, Mr Amupitan must ensure the commission handles collation centers with meticulous attention. The commission must ensure that its management, which is necessary to deal with potential disputes resulting from the polls, reflects strict adherence to established procedures and accountability.

The Anambra gubernatorial election is a crucial moment for Mr Amupitan, as Nigerians want to see whether the new INEC boss can break away from the past and redefine electoral credibility. The professor has a responsibility to ensure that his administration treats this process as an opportunity to reestablish INEC as an impartial body committed to electoral transparency and genuine democratic ideals.

“Our responsibility is to the people of this nation. We are fully prepared to deliver an election that is fair, credible, and reflective of the people’s will,” Mr Amupitan said on Monday.

Mr Amupitan urged all stakeholders to work together in support of a seamless process, cautioning against any attempt by “vested interests” to discredit the electoral process. He said that INEC remains focused and undeterred in discharging its constitutional mandate.

The INEC chairman explained that the crucial role of collaboration with political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, and the media is in ensuring the election’s success.

“We are committed to carrying every stakeholder along in this process. Transparency and partnership remain the bedrock of our credibility,” he said.

Mr Amupitan had stated that all election materials must arrive at the polling units by 7:00 a.m. and that the election must commence at 8:30 a.m. without delay. He added that collation must take place in the presence of party agents, and collated results must align precisely with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System records.

Mr Amupitan stated that strong security arrangements had been implemented to safeguard personnel, voters, and materials throughout the process. He expressed INEC’s operational capacity, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the electoral process during the election.

Elizabeth Agwu, the INEC resident electoral commissioner in the state, while providing an operational update for the election, confirmed that all non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the 21 local government areas of the state.

Ms Agwu also disclosed that the BVAS had been fully configured, tested, and was ready for deployment.

“We have left nothing to chance. From the training of personnel to the deployment of materials, every necessary step has been taken to ensure a smooth, credible, and technology-driven election. Generators have also been deployed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply at critical locations,” she said.