NEW INEC CHAIRMAN PROF. AMUPITAN SET TO ASSUME OFFICE AHEAD OF ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, is expected to officially assume office next week ahead of the 2025 Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 8.
Multiple INEC officials confirmed that Amupitan will take over immediately after his swearing-in by Bola Tinubu, which is traditionally conducted during a Federal Executive Council meeting.
“Prof. Amupitan will assume office on the day he is sworn in by the President. The tradition is that he gets sworn in before a Federal Executive Council meeting, and he would be escorted by INEC National Commissioners to resume office immediately,” a senior official involved in the transition told The PUNCH.
Although the exact date is yet to be confirmed, preparations at the commission suggest the inauguration is imminent. Some of Amupitan’s personal staff were reportedly sighted at INEC headquarters ahead of his expected arrival.
Amupitan, 58, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. His appointment was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate last Thursday after a voice vote led by Godswill Akpabio. He succeeds Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.
In the interim, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu has been serving as Acting INEC Chairman, leading several stakeholder meetings at the commission.
Meanwhile, INEC has reiterated its commitment to delivering a credible election in Anambra State. Speaking in Awka on Tuesday, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee Sam Olumekun assured journalists that preparations were on track.
“All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the state, while sensitive materials will arrive in due course under strict security arrangements,” Olumekun said.
He also confirmed that Permanent Voter Cards from the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise would be available for collection from October 22 to 26.
Resident Electoral Commissioner Elizabeth Awgu assured that logistics had been finalised to ensure early deployment of materials, including to riverine areas.
“Materials will leave the CBN state headquarters on Thursday afternoon. If that happens, there will be no late arrival of materials. We are very much prepared for this election,” Awgu stated.
INEC officials also warned against misinformation, describing fake news as a major threat to electoral integrity. Accreditation for journalists covering the election will not be extended beyond the approved window, and accredited names will be shared with security agencies to ensure proper coordination.
“Together with the media, we are determined to make the 2025 Anambra governorship election a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey — peaceful, transparent, and credible,” Olumekun concluded.
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