It has been a truly humbling few weeks since October 23, 2025 when we resumed, and I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out to congratulate me and the Honourable Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, on our recent appointments. Your prayers, well-wishes, and words of encouragement mean more than we can put into words. We don’t take this trust for granted.
Speaking of well-deserved recognition, I am incredibly proud to share that the Federal Government, through a letter personally signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, fnim, CON, has formally congratulated Professor Amupitan on his recent conferment as a “Great Ambassador of the University of Jos.”
The award, which was presented during the University’s 50th Alumni Anniversary and combined Convocation, is a powerful validation of the chairman’s lifelong journey. From earning his LL.B at UNIJOS in 1987 to becoming a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), his career has been defined by excellence and integrity.
As the SGF rightly noted, this isn’t just an alumni gesture; it is a recognition of a leader whose “sterling public service and commitment to institutional integrity” continue to inspire confidence in our democratic journey.
While we celebrate these milestones, the real work is ahead of us. Professor Amupitan is deeply committed to strengthening our electoral processes, but he cannot do it alone. I am using this medium to appeal to all Nigerians to support the chairman and the Commission.
To our stakeholders (the youth, civil society, and the media), we have a shared enemy: Voter Apathy. Democracy only works when we show up. We must move beyond the complaints on social media and translate that energy into PVCs and actual votes on election day. I enjoin everyone to join us in campaigning against apathy. Let us make “coming out to vote” a national culture.
The chairman’s vision is clear: a transparent, credible, and inclusive process. With your support and your participation, we will get there.
Thank you once again for the love. Let’s get to work for a better Nigeria.
Adedayo Oketola
Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman
