Confusion has trailed reports suggesting that President Bola Tinubu allegedly instructed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure.
Prof. Yakubu, who made history as the first INEC chairman to serve two consecutive terms, is due to complete his second five-year tenure in the first week of December 2025.
Initially appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu was reappointed after completing his first term, with the Senate confirming his reappointment in December of that year.
The alleged presidential directive, which reportedly required Yakubu to suspend his official duties and embark on leave, has raised questions about the commission’s preparedness and stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to reports, the directive led to the abrupt cancellation of INEC’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a scheduled engagement with civil society organisations.
The Guardian confirmed that the quarterly meeting, which was slated to begin on Wednesday with an interactive session with political stakeholders, was indeed postponed. However, it remains uncertain whether this postponement was directly connected to the alleged order from the Presidency.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, cautioned Nigerians against hasty conclusions.
He urged stakeholders to consult the provisions of the 1999 Constitution regarding the appointment and removal of INEC officials.
Quoting Section 154(1) of the Constitution, Oyekanmi stressed: “Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the appointment of a person to the office of the Chairman or member of any of the bodies so established shall be made by the President and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
He further highlighted the safeguards against arbitrary removal, citing Section 157(1), which provides that: “A person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.”
The development has left many political observers concerned about its implications for electoral credibility, particularly as Nigeria approaches another critical election cycle.
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