Yakubu Makes Last Appearance At Election Conference As He Signals Imminent End Of INEC Tenure

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that his time in office is coming to an end.

He said this while speaking at a regional election conference held in Banjul, Gambia. According to him, this was his last appearance at the gathering because his tenure as INEC Chairman will soon expire.

While addressing participants at the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) meeting, Yakubu encouraged stronger cooperation among electoral bodies in West Africa. He also expressed hope that democracy would soon return to countries in the region that are currently ruled by the military.

There have been speculations that President Bola Tinubu might remove Yakubu from office. This followed a recent incident where Yakubu was not present when leaders of an opposition party visited INEC’s office. However, his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, explained that Yakubu was not in the country at the time because he was on an official duty abroad. Oyekanmi added that in Yakubu’s absence, a National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, was in charge.

Meanwhile, talks have already begun about who will replace Yakubu when his tenure ends. Some political and regional leaders are debating whether the next INEC Chairman should come from a region outside the Southwest. There are also arguments that the choice should not be based on region or ethnicity but on merit, competence, and credibility.

It is important to note that since the creation of INEC in 1960, no Yoruba person has ever been appointed as the Chairman. This fact has been mentioned by those calling for regional balance. However, others insist that the focus should remain on selecting a capable and fair candidate, regardless of their region.

Professor Yakubu’s time as INEC Chairman is officially expected to end in November 2025.

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