The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday formally sworn in Prof. Rahmon Tella as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State.
The ceremony, held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, marked Tella’s redeployment to Oyo and was described by the commission as part of its ongoing push to improve electoral management across Nigeria.
In a post on its official X handle, INEC said the oath-taking was conducted with “solemnity and purpose” reflecting Amupitan’s commitment to instilling discipline, integrity, and punctuality within the commission.
While administering the oath, the INEC chairman stressed that the position of REC comes with enormous trust and responsibility.
“An oath-taking is a solemn occasion. It calls you to duty,” Amupitan said.
He added that electoral integrity is “not negotiable,” warning that any form of compromise would not be tolerated.
Amupitan reminded the new REC that INEC’s mission goes beyond regulation, describing it as both a moral and legal obligation to Nigerians.
He urged Tella to ensure that voters in Oyo State have absolute confidence that their ballots will count, charging him to become “a beacon of hope and democratic values.”
In his response, Prof. Tella thanked the chairman for his guidance, saying Amupitan’s remarks were “brimming with value and experience.” He pledged to uphold the commission’s principles and contribute to its reform agenda.
Tella, a Professor of Strategic Management and Public Policy, currently serves as the Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences, Atiba University, Oyo. He has previously served as REC in both Oyo and Ekiti states, representing Osun, with his first term ending in September 2025.
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