The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has appointed former Editor of The PUNCH newspaper, Adedayo Oketola, as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

The appointment was announced by the commission on Monday. Oketola succeeds Rotimi Oyekanmi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

A multiple award-winning journalist and newsroom leader, Oketola brings to the commission nearly two decades of professional experience across Nigeria’s media industry.

Before his appointment, Oketola served as News Editor and Business Editor at The PUNCH. He had earlier worked as Assistant Editor, News and Politics, for Saturday PUNCH, a position he held for over three years.

During his tenure as Editor of The PUNCH, Oketola won the Editor of the Year prize at the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in December 2023, leading the newspaper to clinch the Newspaper of the Year award at the same ceremony.

He was also named Editor of the Year at The Industry Awards in 2022 and is a two-time recipient of the Zimeo Excellence in Media Awards, held in Johannesburg (2015) and Nairobi (2016), among several other honours.

Meanwhile, the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, has pledged to uphold integrity, transparency, and discipline in the management of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Speaking shortly after his swearing-in, Amupitan said his appointment was a divine calling to serve and contribute to the country’s democratic development.

“I am here for a purpose. Maybe if I had a choice, I would have said I would not come here. But from all indications, I can see that God is moving this country, and my coming is divine. With God saying go, who am I to say no? I am here because I have a role to play to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed,” he stated.

He emphasised the importance of teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to credible elections, noting that the success of the commission depends on synergy among its departments and staff.

Amupitan also stressed the need to restore public confidence in the electoral process, assuring Nigerians that their votes would count.

“Our mandate is very clear. That is to deliver free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the people. The integrity of our elections is not negotiable. Every voter must feel confident that their vote counts,” he said.

The INEC Chairman further pledged to prioritise staff welfare, saying effective performance requires an enabling environment.

“For me, staff welfare is going to be a priority. We will expect a lot from you, and because of that, you also deserve to be well-equipped and supported to deliver. We will work assiduously to ensure that your working conditions are conducive and that you have the necessary resources to excel,” he added.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has disclosed that he is under intense pressure from some political actors to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mutfwang made this known over the weekend during an event held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Jos.

The governor, however, insisted that he would remain in the PDP, stating that only God and the people of Plateau who elected him could determine his political future.

“It is true that they have been putting pressure on me,” he said. “But I told them that only two people can authorise me to change my party — one is the God of heaven, and the other is you, the people. Have you asked me to go anywhere?”

His question was met with a loud “No” from the audience.

The development follows weeks of speculation about Mutfwang’s possible move to the ruling APC — rumours which party leaders in the state have already dismissed.

At a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, APC members unanimously voted against a motion proposing the governor’s defection. The motion, moved by former APC deputy national secretary Festus Fuanter, was rejected through a voice vote.

“We don’t want anybody coming to our party. You do your thing, and we’ll do ours,” Fuanter said, adding that the APC was strong enough ahead of the 2027 general elections without needing external reinforcement.

Reacting, Mutfwang said those opposing his alleged defection were acting out of fear.

> “So, those who are rejecting me for what I didn’t even ask for are wasting their time,” he said. “The truth is that 60 to 70 percent of the people in the APC in Plateau would be happy to have us join them. They know I will not do that — and that’s why they’re angry and twisting things.”

He added that he would not be drawn further into the matter, saying, “It’s a story for another day.”

Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has lost several governors to the APC, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Peter Mbah of Enugu. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has also resigned from the PDP and is reportedly on his way to the ruling party.

The Constitutional Council of Cameroon has officially declared 92-year-old Paul Biya the winner of the country’s October 12 presidential election, extending his decades-long rule.

Biya, in office since 1982, secured a fresh seven-year mandate after polling 53.66 percent of the vote. His closest rival, 76-year-old Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesperson, came second with 35.19 percent.

With this victory, Biya begins his eighth consecutive term and is set to remain in office until at least 2032, by which time he will be nearly 100 years old.

The result cements his position as the world’s oldest serving head of state and one of the longest-ruling leaders globally.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have questioned the credibility of the election, citing reports of irregularities and security incidents, including gunfire near Tchiroma’s home in Garoua.