The new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is set to officially begin duties next week, ahead of the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8.
Several officials of INEC disclosed that Amupitan would formally take over leadership of the commission after being sworn in by President Bola Tinubu, a ceremony traditionally held during the Federal Executive Council meeting expected next week.
“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 stated.
An INEC director confirmed that, though the exact date remains uncertain, the swearing-in is imminent.
“He will assume his position after his inauguration,” the official said.
Activities within the commission also indicated that preparations were ongoing for Amupitan’s assumption of office.
An insider disclosed, “I heard some of his ‘personal staff’ have been showing up at the commission, hoping he will be sworn in during the FEC meeting.”
Another insider added, “I learnt that he may likely assume office next week.”
When contacted, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said, “We are expecting him, but there is no information on when he will officially assume office.”
Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law at the University of Jos and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was confirmed as INEC Chairman by the Senate last Thursday following a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
His confirmation came after a thorough screening process in which he responded to several questions from the lawmakers.
President Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan, recognised for his expertise in constitutional and international law, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who recently completed his tenure.
Meanwhile, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who has been serving as the Acting INEC Chairman, has continued to preside over various stakeholder engagements at the commission’s headquarters.
In a related development, INEC reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a transparent, free, and credible governorship election in Anambra State on November 8, 2025.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, made this known in Awka on Tuesday during an engagement with journalists and on-air personalities ahead of the election.
Olumekun stated that the commission had implemented a comprehensive operational strategy covering logistics, technology, training, stakeholder consultations, and security coordination.
“Permit me to assure you that INEC is fully prepared for the upcoming Anambra governorship election. The level of readiness is both practical and measurable. All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the state, while sensitive materials will arrive in due course under strict security arrangements,” he said.
The INEC official revealed that Permanent Voter Cards from the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Anambra were ready for collection between Wednesday, October 22, and Sunday, October 26, 2025.
He encouraged those who registered during the exercise to visit their respective wards to collect their cards before the election.
Olumekun further explained that INEC officials were in Anambra for a week-long readiness assessment, which included meetings with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, transport unions, and other key stakeholders.
He also warned against the spread of fake news and misinformation, describing them as major threats to the integrity of the electoral process.
“False stories and manipulated videos can create unnecessary tension and erode public trust. Let truth remain your only compass. Verify before amplifying,” he cautioned journalists.
Olumekun added that accreditation for journalists covering the election would not be extended beyond the approved window. He explained that the list of accredited reporters would be shared with the Resident Electoral Commissioner and security agencies to ensure effective coordination and safety during vote collation.
In her remarks, the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Elizabeth Awgu, assured that all logistics arrangements had been concluded to ensure the timely deployment of materials across the state, including 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,” she said.
Awgu also confirmed that voting would begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., assuring that all voters already on the queue within that timeframe would still be allowed to cast their ballots.
Also in attendance at the forum were the Heads of Departments, including ICT/VR, Emeka Nnaji; Legal, Mrs. Olachi Nwuko; and Electoral Operations, Ejikeme Ejimofor — all of whom reiterated INEC’s commitment to a transparent and credible process.
“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.
