Senate Picks Date To Confirm Yakubu As INEC Chairman For 2nd Term

The Senate on Wednesday set Tuesday next week for its committee to submit a report on the screening of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for a second term in office as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Senate President Ahmad Lawan gave the instruction during plenary to the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led INEC committee.

The Senate President noted that Yakubu will be screened alongside Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru who has been nominated as an INEC National Commissioner.

It will be recalled President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated Yakubu for a second and final term in office as INEC Chairman and requested the Senate to screen and confirm him.

Yakubu about two weeks ago, handed over to Air Vice-Marshal Ahmed Muazu (retd), a National Commissioner who takes over in acting capacity as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This comes as the 5-year tenure of Prof. Yakubu expired on Monday 9th November 2020.

Though he has been re-appointed for another 5-year term in office by Buhari, his re-appointment is pending approval from the Senate.

Yakubu has therefore handed over to Muazu, a national commissioner in the interim to oversee the affairs of the commission.

The red chamber of the National Assembly has now announced that it would consider the INEC panel report at plenary next Tuesday for Prof. Yakubu’s confirmation.