Controversy has erupted following unverified reports alleging that President Bola Tinubu directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on terminal leave ahead of his retirement in December 2025.
The speculation intensified after INEC unexpectedly postponed its quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, initially scheduled for Wednesday. The session, widely expected to be Yakubu’s final quarterly engagement in his current role, was cancelled without prior explanation.
A separate interactive meeting with civil society organisations was also affected, further fuelling public debate about the leadership of the electoral body. Prof. Yakubu, appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed for a second term in 2020, is set to complete his historic two-term tenure in December making him the first INEC Chairman to serve two full terms since the commission’s inception.
Responding to the controversy, Yakubu dismissed the reports as false and misleading, stressing that no directive has been issued by the presidency regarding his status. His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, also urged Nigerians to rely on constitutional provisions rather than speculation.
“The first step is to check what the law says about the appointment and removal of the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners,” Oyekanmi noted.The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides clear guidelines on the process: while appointments must be confirmed by the Senate under Section 154(1), Section 157(1) stipulates that removal can only be effected through an address supported by a two-thirds majority of the Senate, and strictly on grounds of misconduct or incapacity.
Political analysts argue that these constitutional safeguards remain crucial for protecting the independence of Nigeria’s electoral management bodies at a time when trust in democratic institutions is under scrutiny.
Prof. Yakubu, meanwhile, has reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his mandate until the conclusion of his tenure.
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