Presidency Speaks On Removing INEC Boss, Mahmood Yakubu

See Why Buhari Cannot Sack Professor Yakubu

With the tensed air created since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)‘s postponement of general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he cannot remove the commission’s chairman Mahmood Yakubu.

The president explained that he would need a resolution by two-thirds majority of the Senate to do so.

Naija News recalls that till yesterday there were agitations by some Nigerians that the INEC Boss should resign.

Recall that the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN), yesterday called for the resignation of the INEC Boss, because of the “shocking and disappointing postponement” of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.

Furthermore, there have been speculations that Buhari was set to sack the INEC chairman following the abrupt postponement of the general elections.

However, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, insisted there was no truth in such claims.

“Those reports are utterly baseless and false. There is nothing like that.

“Whoever is saying the President is removing INEC chairman is just displaying his illiteracy. Let him go and read the constitution.

“You need a resolution by two-thirds majority of the Senate for any such action,” Shehu was reported to have said.

INEC has moved the presidential elections to Saturday, February 23, while the National Assembly elections has been re-slated to hold on March 9. This announcement was made by the commission’s chairman about six hours to the start of the polls on the initial date(February 16), Naija News reports.