INEC Chairman Appoints Ex-PUNCH Editor, Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary

INEC Chairman Appoints Ex-PUNCH Editor, Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary

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 announcement was made to journalists on Monday, marking a significant transition as Oketola replaces Rotimi Oyekanmi, who served under the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.Oketola, a multiple award-winning journalist with nearly two decades of experience in Nigeria’s media landscape, brings a wealth of expertise to the role. His illustrious career at The PUNCH saw him serve as News Editor, Business Editor, and Assistant Editor for News & Politics at Saturday PUNCH. As Editor of The PUNCH, he led the newspaper to win the Newspaper of the Year award at the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in December 2023, where he also clinched the Editor of the Year prize. Oketola’s accolades include the 2022 Editor of the Year at The Industry Awards and two Zimeo Excellence in Media Awards in Johannesburg (2015) and Nairobi (2016).In his first address following his swearing-in, Prof. Amupitan pledged to uphold integrity, transparency, and discipline in Nigeria’s electoral process. “I am here because I have a role to play to ensure that a new Nigeria is birthed,” he declared, emphasizing a divine calling to his appointment. “With God saying go, who am I to say no?”Amupitan underscored the importance of teamwork, accountability, and credible elections, stressing that restoring public confidence is paramount. “Our mandate 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 also prioritized staff welfare, promising improved working conditions and resources to enable excellence. “We will expect a lot from you, and because of that, you deserve to be well-equipped and supported to deliver,” he assured the commission’s staff.With Oketola’s appointment and Amupitan’s vision, INEC signals a renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process as it prepares for upcoming electoral challenges.  

Source: INEC Chairman Appoints Ex-PUNCH Editor, Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary

 - NigerianEye

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