Amupitan to resume office immediately after sworn in, ahead of Anambra poll
New Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan.
Amupitan is widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law.
The new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is expected to officially assume office next week, ahead of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
Officials at INEC informed that Amupitan would formally take over the reins of the commission after his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, a ceremony traditionally conducted at the Federal Executive Council meeting, expected to be held 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 process said.
An INEC Director confirmed that while the exact date remains uncertain, the swearing-in is imminent.
“He will assume his position after his inauguration,” the official said.
Activity within the commission also suggested that preparations are underway for Amupitan’s arrival.
An insider revealed, “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.”
Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law at the University of Jos and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was confirmed as INEC Chairman by the Senate last Thursday after a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The don’s confirmation followed a rigorous screening process during which he responded to a range of questions posed by lawmakers.
President Tinubu had earlier nominated Amupitan, widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law, to replace Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who recently concluded his tenure.
In the interim, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who has been serving as the Acting INEC Chairman, recently chaired various stakeholder meetings at thecommission’s headquarters.
Meanwhile, INEC has reaffirmed its commitment and preparedness to conduct a free, fair, 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, gave the assurance in Awka on Tuesday during a forum with journalists and on-air personalities ahead of the poll.
Olumekun said the commission had been implementing a comprehensive operational plan covering logistics, technology, training, stakeholder engagement, 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 disclosed that Permanent Voter Cards from the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Anambra were ready for collection from Wednesday, October 22 to Sunday, October 26, 2025.
He urged voters who registered during the exercise to visit their respective wards to collect their cards ahead of the election.
Olumekun noted that INEC officials were in Anambra for a week-long readiness assessment, including meetings with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, transport unions, and other stakeholders.
He cautioned against the spread of fake news and misinformation, which he described as one of the biggest threats to electoral integrity.
“False stories and manipulated videos can create unnecessary tension and erode public trust. Let truth remain your only compass. Verify before amplifying,” he told journalists.
Olumekun also emphasised that accreditation for journalists covering the election would not be extended beyond the approved window, noting that the list of accredited reporters would be shared with the Resident Electoral Commissioner and security agencies to ensure proper coordination and safety during collation.
In her remarks, the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Elizabeth Awgu, assured that all logistics had been finalised to guarantee the timely distribution 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 added that polling would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., assuring voters that anyone on the queue within the timeframe would be allowed to cast their ballot.
Also present at the forum were the HOD, ICT/VR, Emeka Nnaji; HOD, Legal, Mrs. Olachi Nwuko; and HOD, Electoral Operations, Ejikeme Ejimofor, who all restated INEC’s commitment to a transparent exercise.
“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.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to intervene in the recent face-off between members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Dangote Refinery, which had disrupted petroleum product distribution nationwide.
The resolution of the House followed the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by Kano and Sokoto lawmakers, Alhassan Doguwa and Abdussamad Dasuki, respectively, at Tuesday’s plenary.
In the motion titled, ‘We need to protect private investment from adversarial unionism,’ the lawmakers drew the attention of their colleagues to the significance of the Dangote Refinery, describing it as the largest private petroleum refinery in Africa.
The face-off between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery led to an industrial action which commenced on September 29, 2025, disrupting the operations at the $20bn refinery.
It also led to a disruption in Nigeria’s crude oil production, with a reported daily loss of approximately 200,000 barrels over three days.
The disruption worsened the petroleum supply situation across the country, resulting in scarcity and long queues at filling stations in several states, resulting in severe hardship for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking on the motion, Doguwa, who represents the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Kano State, stressed the need to protect the Dangote Refinery given its strategic significance to the nation’s economy.
He said, “The House is aware that the Dangote Refinery is a strategic private investment of immense national importance, with the potential to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, generate employment, and conserve foreign exchange.
“We are aware that the Dangote Refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone and therefore falls under the regulatory framework of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, particularly Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act, which clearly states that ‘Employment in the free zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to the provisions of any enactments relating to employment matters.’
“The House is concerned that actions by labour unions that disregard the legal protections conferred on Free Zones under the NEPZA Act not only constitute a breach of law but also create a hostile investment environment that may deter future local and foreign investors.
“We are worried that if private investments of strategic national importance are continually subjected to unlawful disruptions by adversarial unionism, Nigeria risks not only the failure of key economic assets but also the erosion of investor confidence necessary for national growth and development.”
In his contribution, the member representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, Ahmad Jaha, urged the House to tread carefully, adding that the call for a probe as prayed by the motion was ill-timed.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged its leadership to broker peace between the two parties in the interest of the nation.
It also urged the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Justice to “jointly develop and implement a national framework or set of policies to safeguard private investments of strategic national importance from adversarial and unlawful union actions.”
It further charged the Federal Ministry of Justice and NEPZA to ensure full enforcement and compliance with the provisions of Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act in all relevant Free Zone operations.
