The Senate, yesterday, confirmed the appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), making him the sixth substantive occupant of the position since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

Upon confirmation, Amupitan vowed that under his leadership, no voter in Nigeria would be left out of the electoral process, even if it means deploying advanced technology, such as drones, to reach remote and insecure areas.

Meanwhile, the National Vice President (South-West) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Taiwo Adelakun, urged him to lead with integrity.

Amupitan’s confirmation, which was devoid of dissenting voices, was met with a chorus of commendations from lawmakers, but also drew sharp criticism from segments of civil society, raising concerns about legislative independence and the credibility of the electoral body under the new leadership.

During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the question to a voice vote. With no objections raised, he declared Amupitan confirmed to succeed Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Akpabio, in his post-confirmation remarks, lauded Amupitan’s credentials, describing him as “a fit and proper person” for the job.

“We looked at your resume. The Department of State Services (DSS) and police have both confirmed that you have no criminal record. You have no known medical issues. You are eminently qualified,” he said.

Former governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, testified to the nominee’s character, citing a longstanding relationship from their time at the University of Jos.

However, the session was not without moments of tension.

Akpabio’s attempt to prevent the nominee from responding to questions on the use of Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal met stiff resistance from lawmakers. Senator Solomon Adeola, among others, insisted that the nominee must answer all outstanding questions before the confirmation process could proceed.

In a passionate address during the screening, Amupitan, a professor of law, vowed that under his leadership, no Nigerian voter would be left behind, even if drones must be deployed to ensure voter access in remote or insecure locations.

“No voter will be disenfranchised. We will invest in logistics and technology. Where necessary, drones will be used to deliver materials to hard-to-reach areas. Every eligible Nigerian must be able to vote,” he said.

He emphasised his commitment to civic education, transparency and institutional accountability, while promising a nationwide voter education campaign and the establishment of an INEC Ethics and Compliance Committee to monitor internal conduct.

Since Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1999, INEC has been led by a series of chairmen with varying degrees of public confidence. Justice Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000) oversaw the 1999 transition elections, Dr Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Prof Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), Prof Attahiru Jega (2010–2015) – widely respected for overseeing the 2015 election that led to a peaceful transition of power, and Prof Mahmood Yakubu (2015–2025)

Acting chairpersons include Mrs Amina Bala Zakari (2015) and Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu (2025).

Amupitan’s appointment was initially endorsed by the National Council of State (NCDS) and transmitted to the Senate by President Tinubu earlier in October.

At a press conference ahead of the 36th anniversary celebration of Rehoboth Cathedral, themed ‘The Glory of the Latter House’, Adelakun, who also serves as Chancellor of Dominion University, Ibadan, charged Amupitan on fairness and fearlessness.

Adelakun said: “The new INEC Chairman must be fearless and fair. The true umpire must never be biased. My prayer is that he will succeed and that integrity will guide his tenure.”

The briefing was part of activities leading up to the 36th anniversary, taking place from October 16 to 19, 2025, at Wonder Hall, Rehoboth Cathedral, Wonder City, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The four-day event will feature what Adelakun described as “four days of fearful praise and two mornings of appreciation,” culminating in the foundation-laying of a 16,000-capacity mega cathedral, which he vowed would be completed within a year.

Cole issues TV station ultimatum over Wike’s remarks

Rivers State Executive Council (SEC) has revoked the N134 billion contract awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation, retrofitting and furnishing of the State Secretariat by the six-month emergency administration of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).

It directed the immediate refund of the N20 billion mobilisation fee already paid to the contractor.

Meanwhile, the 2023 governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, Tonye Cole, has demanded a public apology and N20 billion damages from Channels Television over alleged defamatory remarks made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Rivers SEC also approved the revalidation of the bidding processes for four contracts, comprising the renovation of the State Secretariat Complex, the construction of reinforced concrete shoreline protection, and reclamation works in several riverine communities of Opobo/Nkoro and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local councils.

The decisions were reached during the SEC meeting yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Briefing newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, explained that the contracts were awarded in a hasty manner without following due process. He stated that the council, therefore, approved the revalidation of the bidding process for all four contracts that were previously advertised in national dailies on February 19, 2025.

With the revalidation process now underway, Ezekiel-Hart stated that a fresh bidding advertisement would be published in newspapers for competent and experienced contractors to prequalify and submit both technical and commercial bids.

He listed the projects to include, “The construction of 4.8km reinforced concrete shoreline protection and reclamation of Queenstown, Epellema, Oloma, and Minima communities in Opobo/Nkoro Local Council, the construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation in Ndoni-Onukwu, Isikwu, and Aziazagi communities in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Council; the construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation in Utuechi, Obiofu, Isala, Ani-Eze and Odugri communities in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Council; and the renovation, retrofitting and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex.”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, announced that the council approved the constitution of a committee to develop a proposal for the creation of Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres and ICT Laboratories across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Cole, through his lawyers, S.O. Okutepa (SAN) & Co., issued a seven-page demand letter dated October 8, 2025, to Channels Incorporated Ltd, owners of Channels TV, accusing the station of airing “malicious and unfounded statements” that severely damaged his reputation

The controversy stems from the September 18, 2025, edition of ‘Politics Today’, a live programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye and titled ‘One-on-One with Nyesom Wike’.

During the interview, Wike, a former governor of Rivers, allegedly called Cole a “thief,” accused him of “stealing state resources,” and described him as a “conduit pipe with Sahara” responsible for “selling Rivers Gas for $308 million,” which he claimed “crippled the resources of Rivers.”

Cole’s lawyers said the remarks, broadcast to millions of viewers and subsequently circulated on social media, were made “recklessly and without any factual basis.”

They alleged that Channels TV gave Wike “unrestricted and unfettered airtime” to make the claims and has since rebroadcast and retained the interview on its YouTube channel, further compounding the damage.

To mitigate what they described as “colossal damage,” the legal team gave the station a 14-day deadline, expiring on October 22, 2025, to meet several conditions, including a full retraction of the statements aired with equal prominence on Channels TV, a written and broadcast apology, removal of the programme from YouTube and other platforms, and payment of N20 billion in compensation via bank draft.

The lawyers also demanded a written undertaking from Channels TV to desist from further defamatory publications against Cole.

There were indications on Thursday that some names on the presidential pardon list approved by the Council of State, as presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), may be dropped.

The development comes amid growing public outcry over the inclusion of certain high-profile and violent offenders among those pardoned by President Bola Tinubu.

The presidential pardon, usually granted to mark national occasions, was also meant to decongest prisons and promote reconciliation.

The presidential statement noted that the decision followed recommendations by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General.

It added that the list of beneficiaries was divided into six categories: Those granted pardon, posthumous pardon (including the Ogoni Nine), victims of the Ogoni Nine honoured, presidential clemency (clemency beneficiaries), inmates recommended for reduced terms of imprisonment, and inmates on death row whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

However, the latest episode has reignited debate over the transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s pardon process.

On Thursday, Fagbemi (SAN), however, clarified that the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy recently announced by the President was still under review and had not been finalised.

Controversy has continued to trail the inclusion of some names, with anti-graft and security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, reportedly moving to halt the release of some individuals on the list.

Fagbemi, at the Council of State meeting convened on October 9, 2025, had listed illegal miners, white-collar convicts, drug offenders, foreigners, Maj Gen Mamman Vatsa, Prof Magaji Garba, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, as well as capital offenders such as Maryam Sanda, among the 175 convicts and former convicts who received presidential pardon.

The full list was released in a statement from the Presidency on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

While some names of Politically-Exposed Persons on the list, like Herbert Macaulay, Farouk Lawan, among others, did not raise dust, the inclusion of certain individuals linked to violent crimes and security breaches sparked outrage.

One of the names was Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2017 for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death.

While some members of Bello’s family rejected the pardon for Maryam, the father, Alhaji Bello Isa, alongside Maryam’s father,  Alhaji Garba Sanda, addressed a press conference to accept the presidential pardon.

The President also pardoned Major S. Alabi Akubo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal possession of prohibited firearms, among others and one Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, whose kidnapping terror spanned Delta, Edo, Rivers, Abia, Benue, and Oyo states, with detention camps in Warri and Kokori (Delta), Ugbokolo (Benue), Benin City (Edo), and Aba (Abia).

The names of those convicted for killing security agents, illicit drug couriers, and others tried for money laundering, among other offences, were queried on the list.

The uproar has reportedly prompted a review of the clemency process, with the Presidency considering dropping controversial names that generated public criticisms.

Security agencies kick

A presidential aide with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, NDLEA and lead security agencies had raised strong objections to the list, insisting that some of the names were “smuggled in” and not part of those recommended by the presidential committee that screened applicants for clemency.

He said anti-graft agencies warned that releasing some of the convicts could undermine the ongoing fight against corruption and organised crime.

He said a top security source disclosed that some of the proposed beneficiaries “can never be released,” particularly those convicted of killing security operatives or engaging in kidnapping and other capital offences.

“The list was too wide, and some of the names did not pass the necessary security vetting.

“The EFCC, NDLEA, and other security agencies have insisted that the list must be pruned down. Not all the names came from the committee that reviewed the cases,” the presidential aide said.

Officials also familiar with the matter said the final list would likely exclude those whose release could pose security risks or undermine confidence in the justice system.

“The list will be trimmed to reflect only those who genuinely deserve the President’s mercy. Those whose inclusion created controversy will be expunged,” a senior official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH on Thursday.

Another official in one of the security agencies said, “Some low-level officers at the level of the committee smuggled in some names. Obviously, the President is unaware of some of the names on that list.

“They have now sent the list to NDLEA and other security agencies for review. Some of the names on the list did not meet the criteria. Some low-level officers bypassed the criteria.

“In fact, some of the cases are still fresh. The good thing is that they are still in custody; they have not been released.”

An official of one of the anti-graft agencies also spoke under the condition of anonymity.

He told The PUNCH, “I am aware the ICPC and the police are not comfortable with the list because the names of some convicts who are not supposed to be on that list are there.”

When reached for comments by The PUNCH, officials of the agencies were not ready to speak on the matter officially.

List for review

On Thursday, Fagbemi (SAN) stated that the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy recently announced by the President was still under review and had not been finalised.

In a statement in Abuja, the minister clarified that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise had been released from custody.

According to Fagbemi, “The process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued.”

He further explained that after the approval by the Council of State, the next step in the process was the issuance of the formal instrument implementing the President’s decision for each beneficiary.

“This stage affords an opportunity for a final review of the list for remedial purposes, if necessary, before the instrument is forwarded to the Controller-General of Corrections for necessary action.

“This verification process is part of the standard protocol and reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and due diligence,” the AGF said.

Fagbemi appreciated the public’s vigilance and constructive feedback, describing it as a sign of Nigerians’ deep concern for justice and good governance.

“There is no delay in the process; it is simply following the law to the letter to ensure that only those duly qualified benefit from the President’s mercy. As soon as all legal and procedural checks are concluded, the public will be duly informed. The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness.”

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