Despite Reports Of Terminal Leave, Yakubu Continues INEC Chairmanship Role

Despite a report from an online newspaper that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on terminal leave, the electoral body’s boss has continued to function in his role.

Naija News had reported that Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, chaired the commission’s regular weekly committee and approved the promotion of some junior staff.

According to INEC national commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the meeting also reviewed preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election, the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and the conduct of party primaries for the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections.

Olumekun said: “In addition, the meeting approved the 2025 promotion of 471 deserving junior staff (GL 03-06) of the commission on the recommendation of the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, APDC, in line with the Staff Conditions of Service.

“A total of 515 staff were shortlisted for the exercise, out of which 214 met the requirements for promotion.”

The INEC Chairman is expected to end his two-term tenure of 10 years in the first week of December 2025. Yakubu was first appointed as INEC chair in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yakubu was reappointed by President Buhari after his first tenure lapsed and confirmed by the Senate in December. No INEC Chairman has served two terms since the establishment of the commission.

The previously stated report had alleged that Yakubu was asked to suspend official duties and proceed on leave, a development that has thrown the commission’s schedule into uncertainty.

While The Guardian confirmed that the quarterly consultative meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday with an interactive session with political parties, was abruptly postponed, it remains unclear whether the development is connected to the alleged presidential directive.

“The first thing you need to do is to find out what the law says about the appointment and removal of the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners,” the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi told The Guardian, urging Nigerians to first consult the 1999 Constitution before drawing conclusions.

The 1999 Constitution clearly outlines the process in Section 154(1), which states:

“Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the appointment of a person to the office of the Chairman or member of any of the bodies so established shall be made by the President and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

It also provides safeguards against arbitrary removal in Section 157(1): “A person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.”