The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has signaled the end of his tenure, bidding farewell to his colleagues at a regional election conference in Banjul, Gambia.
Speaking at the extraordinary general assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), Yakubu confirmed it was his final appearance as INEC Chairman, as his tenure ends later this year.
He urged for deeper collaboration among West African election management bodies and expressed optimism about the return of democracy to countries currently under military rule in the region.
Yakubu’s comments come amid recent rumors of his removal by President Bola Tinubu, following his absence at INEC’s office when opposition party leaders visited.
However, his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that Yakubu was on official assignment abroad and that National Commissioner Sam Olumekun was only acting in his absence.
As discussions around his successor intensify, regional and political leaders are debating the process of appointing a new INEC Chairman. Some argue the position should go to a region other than the Southwest, while others emphasize the need for competence over ethnicity.
Political figures including Senator Femi Okurounmu and Alhaji Tanko Yakasai have defended the President’s constitutional right to appoint the INEC boss, urging critics to avoid ethnic sentiments. They also called for a more democratic selection process through constitutional amendments.
No Yoruba individual has led the electoral commission since its inception in 1960, a fact cited by those advocating for regional balance. However, others insist that President Tinubu should prioritize credibility, competence, and fairness in selecting Yakubu’s successor.
