National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has emphasised that credible elections are crucial to safeguarding Nigeria’s national security and strengthening democratic governance.
Amupitan made the remark on Monday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, led by its President, Mike Ejiofor.
The visit was part of preparations for the association’s Second Annual Lecture titled “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria.”
Welcoming the delegation, the INEC chairman described the theme of the lecture as timely and important, stressing that the credibility of elections has a direct impact on peace and stability in the country.
“Credible elections are the bedrock of our democracy and their integrity directly impacts on our national security.
“For us in INEC, a free, fair and credible election cannot happen if it is not peaceful. It is therefore imperative that security agencies, policy makers and stakeholders work in harmony to uphold transparency, fairness and security during every electoral cycle,” Amupitan said.
Amupitan commended ANNISS for its contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through the training of senior officers across the armed forces, intelligence community and regulatory agencies.
