By Gabriel Ameh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially sworn in Professor Adeniran Tella as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State, with a strong warning from the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, that breaches of conduct, procedures, and core electoral values will not be tolerated under his leadership.
The swearing-in ceremony, held on Tuesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja, was attended by National Commissioners, directors, and members of the INEC Press Corps. The event marks Prof. Tella’s return to Oyo State, where he previously served as REC before his reappointment.
In his address, Professor Amupitan described the ceremony as “a solemn call to duty,” noting that the role of a REC places its occupant at the centre of Nigeria’s democratic system. He restated his mandate as INEC Chairman to deliver elections that are free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive.
“INEC’s credibility is the lifeblood of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said. “Your role as REC is critical in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. We will not condone any action capable of eroding public trust in this Commission.”
The Chairman urged Prof. Tella to uphold transparency, professionalism, and accountability, while strictly complying with all electoral guidelines. He emphasized the need to boost public confidence, tackle vote-buying, and sustain ongoing reforms within the Commission.
“At a time when voter apathy remains a major national challenge, your duty goes beyond administration—your work is a service to democracy itself,” Amupitan added.
Responding after taking the oath of office, Prof. Tella expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him. He acknowledged the reforms underway within the Commission and said his experience in public administration and election logistics has prepared him for the tasks ahead.
He pledged to strengthen inter-agency security coordination, enforce fairness, and ensure strict compliance with all electoral regulations. Tella outlined his priorities, including enhanced voter education, improved logistics, better monitoring of personnel, continuous voter registration, and a more robust result-management system built on real-time transmission and public display of results.
He also highlighted the importance of pre-election technical audits, reinforced backup systems, and stronger cybersecurity to protect vital election infrastructure.
According to him, public engagement under his leadership will reflect Nigeria’s social and cultural realities, with citizens placed “at the centre of every electoral activity.”
Prof. Tella thanked the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and staff for their support and pledged to deliver credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in Oyo State.
“With the support of the Commission and the cooperation of stakeholders, we will strengthen trust and ensure that the votes of the people count,” he assured.
