The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, confirmed that he is preparing for the end of his term as the head of Nigeria’s electoral body. This announcement came during his address at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Prof. Yakubu noted that this would be his final appearance at an ECONEC meeting as the INEC Chairman, signaling the conclusion of his second and final term in office. His tenure as INEC Chairman, which began on November 9, 2015, has seen him serve through two five-year terms. Initially appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, his first term was renewed for another five years, covering both the contentious 2019 and 2023 general elections.
In his speech, Yakubu thanked his counterparts across West Africa for their support and collaboration throughout his leadership. He underscored the importance of electoral integrity and the role of electoral management bodies (EMBs) in promoting regional unity. Prof. Yakubu also urged continued cooperation between these bodies to help strengthen democracy across the African continent.
The announcement of his preparation for a handover note comes after rumors surfaced online suggesting that President Bola Tinubu was considering removing him from office. These rumors gained traction after a post from INEC’s official social media page announced that Sam Olumekun, referred to as the acting chairman, had hosted a high-level delegation from the Labour Party. The delegation was led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, which led to speculations that Yakubu had already been replaced.
However, these rumors were quickly refuted by Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman. Oyekanmi clarified that Olumekun was simply standing in for Yakubu, who was in Banjul attending the ECONEC meeting.
While in The Gambia, Yakubu took time to reflect on his leadership and the work done by ECONEC to foster stronger democratic institutions in West Africa. He acknowledged the challenges faced by some countries in the region, noting that four countries had recently fallen from democratic rule. Despite this, Yakubu remained hopeful that these nations would soon restore democratic governance.
