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).
News Point Nigeria reports that the commission announced Oketola’s appointment to journalists on Monday.
He replaces Rotimi Oyekanmi, who served in the same capacity under the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Oketola is a multiple award-winning Nigerian journalist, author, and strategic communications expert with over two decades of high-impact experience in journalism, editorial leadership, and media innovation.
He served as Editor of The PUNCH, Nigeria’s most widely read and influential newspaper, from 2022 to 2024, leading it to consecutive Newspaper of the Year wins and earning the Editor of the Year award from the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in 2023, and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in 2024.
He had earlier served as the Editor of PUNCH Weekend Titles for three years, the first in the 50-year history of the media group to edit both Saturday PUNCH and Sunday PUNCH simultaneously. Before then, he was Group Business Editor of The PUNCH, News Editor of The PUNCH, and News & Politics Editor of Saturday PUNCH.
His outstanding journalism across several beats, including ICT, Energy, labour, business & economy, news & politics —earned him over 15 prestigious local and international awards, fellowships, and recognitions.
He possesses B. A English (Literature) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (2004); M.A English (Literature) from the University of Ibadan (2007); Certificate in Investigative Reporting from the New England Centre for Investigative Reporting in Boston University, Massachusetts, United States (2012); LL.B from the National Open University of Nigeria (2017); Diploma in Public Relations from the Business Education Examination Council (2021).
He is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON); a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Nigerian Guild of Editors and Lions Clubs International, District 404B2 Nigeria.
Oketola is an Edward R. Murrow Fellow under the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and currently serves as President, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association in Nigeria.
His debut book is titled “The Catalyst: Nigerian Tech Evolution Through A Journalist’s Lens,” presented to the public in 2024.
Oketola hosted Nigeria’s first-ever Exaugural Lecture by a newspaper editor to mark his transition from editorship and 20 years of service in journalism.
Meanwhile, the new INEC boss has vowed to uphold integrity, transparency, and discipline in the management of Nigeria’s electoral process.
He spoke shortly after his swearing-in, “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 said teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to credible elections were important, noting that the commission’s success depends on synergy among its departments and staff.
He stressed the need to restore public confidence in the electoral process, adding that Nigerians must trust that their votes will count.
He said, “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.
“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 stated.