BREAKING: Tinubu To Swear In New INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Next Week — Commission Steps Up Final Preparations For Crucial Anambra Poll

A new chapter is set to unfold at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as newly appointed chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), is expected to officially assume office next week, barely two weeks before the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.

Multiple sources within INEC confirmed to Daily Trust that Amupitan’s swearing-in ceremony will be conducted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting next week, after which he will immediately assume full control of the electoral body.

> “Prof. Amupitan will resume office on the day he is sworn in by the President. The ceremony usually takes place before the FEC meeting, and he will be escorted to the commission by National Commissioners,”
a senior INEC official told Daily Trust.

Another director at the commission affirmed that although the exact date of the swearing-in has not been disclosed, preparations have intensified within the headquarters.

> “We expect him to be inaugurated next week. There are clear signs already; some of his aides have been around in anticipation,”
the source added.

When contacted, Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, confirmed the commission’s readiness to receive its new head but said no formal notification had been received.

> “We are expecting him, but we’ve not been informed of the official date yet,”
Eta-Messi said.

Senate Confirmation And Background

Prof. Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law at the University of Jos and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was confirmed by the Senate last Thursday following an extensive screening session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Renowned for his expertise in constitutional and international law, Amupitan succeeds Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended recently. During the transition period, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu has been acting as the interim chairman, overseeing high-level stakeholder engagements.

Amupitan’s assumption of duty comes at a critical moment for the commission as it intensifies preparations for the upcoming Anambra governorship election, the first major poll under his leadership.

INEC Assures Readiness For Anambra Poll

In a related development, INEC has reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Anambra State next month.

Addressing journalists and on-air personalities in Awka on Tuesday, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission’s operational plans were comprehensive and on schedule.

> “INEC is fully prepared for the Anambra election. All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the state, while sensitive materials will arrive shortly under tight security,”
Olumekun assured.

He revealed that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise would be available for collection between October 22 and 26, 2025, urging eligible voters to pick up their cards early.

Olumekun also warned against fake news and misinformation, describing them as major threats to Nigeria’s democratic process.

> “False stories and doctored videos can ignite tension and undermine public confidence. The media must stay guided by truth — verify before you amplify,”
he cautioned.

He further noted that media accreditation for election coverage would not be extended beyond the approved deadline, adding that accredited journalists’ details would be shared with security agencies for coordination and protection during the exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Elizabeth Awgu, assured that all logistics arrangements have been concluded for early deployment of materials to all polling units, including riverine and remote communities.

> “Materials will leave the CBN office on Thursday afternoon. Once that happens, there will be no late arrival anywhere. We are fully prepared,”
Awgu told reporters.

She added that polling will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m., noting that voters already on queue before closing time will still be allowed to cast their votes.

Also present at the stakeholder forum were Emeka Nnaji (HOD, ICT/VR), Mrs. Olachi Nwuko (HOD, Legal), and Ejikeme Ejimofor (HOD, Operations) — all of whom reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and credible election.

> “With the cooperation of the media, civil society, and security agencies, we are determined to make the 2025 Anambra governorship election a model for electoral integrity in Nigeria,”
Olumekun concluded.

Profile: The Man Taking Over Nigeria’s Electoral Helm

Prof. Joash Amupitan is one of Nigeria’s most respected legal scholars, with decades of academic and professional experience in constitutional and human rights law. A former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, he has served on several national legal reform committees and is widely described as a disciplined, reform-minded intellectual.

His appointment comes at a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey — as INEC prepares not just for Anambra, but for Edo and Ondo governorship elections in 2026, and the build-up to the 2027 general elections.