The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has confirmed his impending departure from office, marking the beginning of the end of his tenure with an emotional farewell at a regional conference in Banjul, Gambia.
Speaking during the extraordinary general assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), Yakubu said the event would be his last official outing as INEC Chairman, with his tenure set to conclude in November 2025.
“This is my final appearance at an ECONEC event as Chairman of INEC,” he stated, signaling the end of a historic tenure that spanned two terms and multiple national elections.
Yakubu used the platform to call for stronger collaboration among electoral bodies in West Africa and expressed hope for the restoration of democracy in countries currently under military rule within the ECOWAS region.
His comments follow recent speculation over a possible dismissal by President Bola Tinubu. The rumours were sparked by Yakubu’s absence during a visit to INEC’s Abuja headquarters by leaders of the opposition parties. However, his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, dispelled the claims, clarifying that the Chairman was out of the country on official assignment, with National Commissioner Sam Olumekun standing in for him.
As his exit looms, discussions about his potential successor have intensified. While some political and regional voices argue for a Southwesterner to be considered — citing that no Yoruba person has held the position since the commission’s formation in 1960 — others insist that competence, integrity, and neutrality should be the decisive factors in the appointment.
The Federal Government has yet to announce any shortlist or formal process for the selection of the next INEC Chairman. With elections in Nigeria becoming increasingly contentious and complex, stakeholders across the political spectrum are closely monitoring how the appointment will unfold.
Yakubu’s tenure, which began in 2015 and was renewed in 2020, has been marked by landmark electoral reforms, the expansion of voter registration, and the introduction of technology in voting processes, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results.
As the region prepares for upcoming electoral cycles, Yakubu urged election management bodies across West Africa to defend democracy and foster institutional cooperation.
