Countdown to 2027: Tinubu set to appoint new INEC chairman this week

Countdown to 2027: Tinubu set to appoint new INEC chairman this week

President Bola Tinubu has officially accepted the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the completion of his second and final term in office.

In light of this, the President is expected to announce Yakubu’s successor after the Council of State meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where he will present a list of nominees for the top electoral position.

On Tuesday, Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, a seasoned legal practitioner, who has taken over as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.

In recognition of his contributions to the nation’s electoral process, President Tinubu honoured the former INEC Chairman with the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and other members of the Council of State are expected to advise Tinubu on the next INEC chair.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in  a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that Tinubu thanked the outgoing INEC boss for his services to the nation.

The statement titled ‘President Tinubu Accepts INEC Chairman’s Departure, Bestows National Honour on Him,’ read, “President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.

“In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation,  President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger.

“President Tinubu also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.”

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu expressed gratitude to the President for the privilege of overseeing the commission for two terms.

Tinubu, in turn, thanked him for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and conducting elections he described as “free and fair” across his tenure.

Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as INEC’s 14th chairman for a five-year term.

Following Senate confirmation, he was reappointed in 2020 for another five years, now concluded.

Over the decade, Yakubu oversaw the 2019 and 2023 general elections and numerous off-cycle polls.

Under his leadership, INEC introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for voter verification and the Results Viewing Portal to allow instant public access to polling unit results.

In November 2021, INEC piloted BVAS during the Anambra governorship election, which was the first time it was deployed in a state-wide election.

It was used in the FCT Area Council elections and some off-cycle governorship polls (Ekiti and Osun) in 2022.

It was fully implemented nationwide during the 2023 general elections, mandated by the Electoral Act 2022.

Yakubu institutionalised a system of continuous registration and updates of voter records, breaking away from only registering citizens ahead of elections.

During his tenure, the number of polling units increased significantly, bringing election access closer to many communities across Nigeria.

The erstwhile INEC boss also championed a consistent election timetable while increasing collaboration with political parties, civil society organisations, international observers, and media to ensure better oversight and trust in the process.

Yakubu established the Election Monitoring and Support Centre and other predictive systems to track performance across polling units using performance indicators.

Under him, INEC introduced provisions to support persons with disabilities, priority voting for the elderly and vulnerable groups and measures to ensure internally displaced persons could better participate.

Despite political pressure and intense public scrutiny, Yakubu managed to preserve INEC’s institutional independence. He continuously emphasised neutrality and adherence to constitutional guidelines.

However, Yakubu’s tenure was not without controversy as the 2023 election recorded technical glitches and delays blamed on system failures and transmission lags.

Political actors often accused INEC of favouring one side, especially during tight contests. During elections, polling units experienced late arrivals of materials or security lapses, particularly in volatile areas.

Furthermore, voter apathy and scepticism about election fairness remained concerns throughout his tenure.

Speaking on the agitation for a new selection guidelines for the appointment of a new INEC chairman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ifedayo

Adedipe, dismissed the growing debate over who should appoint the INEC chair, describing it as a distraction from Nigeria’s deeper governance and electoral issues.

Speaking on the debate surrounding the appointment of a new INEC chairman, Adedipe dismissed the controversy as unnecessary, recalling that former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Professor Attahiru Jega, who went on to oversee the 2015 election that Jonathan lost.

“Was it not Jonathan who appointed Professor Jega? Didn’t Jonathan lose the election? We should be more concerned about other pressing issues rather than who appoints who,” he argued.

Adedipe maintained that the integrity of Nigeria’s elections is not determined by who leads INEC but by the attitude and conduct of politicians and citizens. “Does the INEC chairman come to polling units? No. On election day, politicians distribute money to voters — what they call ‘see and buy.’ Those are the real problems we should address, not who appoints the chairman,” he said, stressing that credible elections depend on the character of the people, not merely on institutional leadership.

Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adedayo Adedeji, noted that the Constitution empowers the President to appoint the INEC chairman, subject to Senate confirmation. “Sections 153 and 154 of the Constitution are clear on this. The appointment process is already balanced through Senate screening, which ensures public scrutiny and accountability,” he explained.

Adedeji, however, emphasized the need for broad consultations before any appointment to ensure transparency and inclusiveness. He recalled previous reform proposals suggesting that the President should no longer appoint the INEC chairman — a recommendation that never materialized. According to him, the inclusion of the Council of State in the current process is a step toward transparency, although its role remains advisory.

He noted that while some have proposed that the Supreme Court should handle such appointments, the focus should be on selecting individuals of integrity and competence.

Also contributing, Wale Balogun, SAN, advocated for a more credible and transparent selection process. He acknowledged that while existing constitutional checks and balances are adequate in theory, institutional weaknesses sometimes undermine their effectiveness. “The system should be strengthened to ensure that only credible individuals emerge, and that no single authority — including the President — can manipulate the process,” he stated.

In conclusion, the legal experts agreed that the real test of Nigeria’s democracy lies not just in who appoints the INEC chairman but in the strength of the institutions, the credibility of the process, and the collective commitment of citizens and leaders to uphold electoral integrity.