Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2015 to 2025 has finally left office as Chairman of INEC after serving out 2-full terms in the position. Yakubu was first appointed as Chairman INEC in 2015 as was re-appointed Chairman of the Commission in 2019.
He was credited with several innovations in INECs conduct of the elections in 2019 and 2023. It was also under his tenure that Electoral Act 2010 was repealed and re-enacted with several innovative introductions including the use of technology for elections. Mahmud took over from the well-respected Attahiru Jega who conducted the general elections in 2015 that saw President Goodluck Jonathan the incumbent loose to General Muhammadu Buhari.
Yakubu who took over from Jega did not however, march the acclaimed achievements of Jega, indeed he was criticized for leading a weakened INEC who appeared to have succumbed to the interference of politicians particularly the ruling party in the conduct of elections.
The two general elections conducted under Yakubu was widely critiqued for lacking credibility. The 2023 general elections were particularly criticized by Nigerian Election Observers who described the elections as flawed, with observers citing INEC’s refusal to follow its own guidelines in the conduct of the elections, particularly failure to upload election results on its election IReV portal as stated in its guidelines
With elections only a few months away the nations expect a new chairman to be nominated to the senate for confirmation hearings immediately. Under the constitution, the President will send a nominee’s name after consultation with the Council of State to the Senate for confirmation hearing.
Once the Senate approves a new chairman will be sworn in.
Criteria
CSO and election stakeholders have worried in recent time about the credibility of the next nomination for the appointment of the next INEC chairman position. In its credibility threshold document for the 2027 general elections, the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room captured its concerns as follows:
“The appointment of INEC Chairman and Commissioners has been marred by allegations of partisanship, nepotism, and lack of transparency, leading to the emergence of individuals seen to be partisan and /or incompetent. This has further eroded the credibility of the electoral process, leading to doubts about the fairness and capacity of officials.”
As the president sets to nominate a new INEC Chairman, the Situation room has outlined its expectation as follows:
“ That the appointment of the INEC Chairman and other Commissioners will be done in line with the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution and according to the international best practice that guarantees neutrality and competence. The Constitution requires that “unquestionable integrity and be not less than 40years of age in the case of the Chairman and not less than 35years of age in the case of the National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners”.