INEC Chairman Archives - Page 3 of 4

2027: Tinubu faces pressure, as INEC boss bows out in 60 days

September 13, 2025September 13, 2025 Aminu Imam

…Observers are asking: “Who’ll take charge of polls?” With just 60 days left until the end of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s historic decade at the helm of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria is on edge over who will steer the nation’s elections into 2027. Yakubu’s second and final five-year tenure officially winds down on November 9, 2025 – a day after he supervises his last major poll, the Anambra governorship election. That vote, set for November, 8 across 5,720 polling units, could well define his legacy. Appointed in 2015…

‘Democracy under threat!’ – INEC cries out

September 11, 2025September 11, 2025 Aminu Imam

…As 2027 billboards, rallies flood cities The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has raised alarm over the surge of premature political campaigns across Nigeria, warning that the trend threatens democratic governance but admitting it lacks the legal power to stop offenders. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at a stakeholders’ roundtable yesterday in Abuja, described the situation as “a disturbing trend” that undermines the spirit of the Electoral Act 2022 and weakens the commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance rules. Section 94(1) of the Act prohibits campaigns earlier than 150…

‘INEC Chair, Yakubu polluting Nigeria’s elections since 2015’ – Obasanjo

August 24, 2025August 24, 2025 Aminu Imam

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has made a strong public accusation against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, claiming that he has been “polluting” Nigeria’s electoral process since his appointment in 2015. This statement appears to stem from Obasanjo’s recent launch of his new book: ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’, where he critiqued systemic issues in Nigeria’s democracy, including corruption in the judiciary and electoral bodies. The accusation was reported widely highlighting Obasanjo’s long-standing concerns about electoral integrity under Yakubu’s leadership. The former military Head…

Electoral Reforms: INEC to phase-out PVCs, plans Diaspora voting

December 14, 2024December 14, 2024 Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC,) says it would soon present to the joint committees of the 10th Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters eight items of electoral reforms for consideration. Chairperson of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Thursday, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Commission in Abuja, said the eight items are part of the 142 identified recommendations from the report of the 2023 general elections. He said 86 of the 142 recommendations require administrative action by INEC, which prompted…

‘INEC ready, capable of handling LG elections’ � Prof. Yakubu

July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 Aminu Imam

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the Commission is ready and capable of handling local governments election if given the task. Yakubu said this yesterday, while appearing before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters to discuss preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. He , however, said the INEC�s ability to manage local government elections is contingent upon a change in the law to empower it to do so. Yakubu cited the Federal Capital Territory,…

INEC proposes 142 recommendations to improve electoral process

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 Aminu Imam

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, says the Commission has come up with 142 recommendations to improve the future electoral process. Yakubu disclosed this at the opening of a 2-day Induction Retreat for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) yesterday, in Lagos. He said the Commission had published the report of the review of the 2023 elections, adding it was already available on its website, adding that in addition, there is also the outcome of the retreats and engagements with stakeholders, which is right now being published.…

‘Why FCT council elections won�t hold next year’ � INEC

June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has said it won�t conduct council election in Nigeria�s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, next year. The electoral umpire asserted that holding council election next year in the FCT will amount to violation of the law. It referred some members of the public, especially politicians, who are insisting on conduct of council election in the FCT next year, to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) with respect to the tenure of Area Council Chairmen in the Territory. According to the Commission,…

�Why Nigerian President must be stripped of power to appoint INEC�s chair� – Agbakoba

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023 Aminu Imam

…Wants INEC unbundled Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and also a member of the Uwais committee, Olisa Agbakoba, has recommended the unbundling of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that their responsibility is too much. According to him, �INEC is the largest printer of paper in Nigeria. It is not their job to be printing. The Commission is doing far too many things; in the Uwais committee report, we recommended removing the function of regulating political parties from INEC, by the creation of a political…

INEC Chair swears-in 9 RECs, warns against transgression

December 12, 2023December 12, 2023 Aminu Imam

Photo Caption: The combined meeting of the Hon. Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and members of the Commission with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and the swearing-in of new RECs to fill vacancies in nine States of the Federation. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday, swore-in nine newly Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) that were recently appointed by the president and cleared by the National Assembly. Yakubu at the ceremony in Abuja urged the RECs to understand and operate within the limits of their…

2023 Polls: EU debunks call for INEC Chairman�s sacking

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023 Aminu Imam

The European Union (EU) in Nigeria has debunked a report that the Commission, in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) are calling for the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. In a letter, which is currently circulating on social media, the EU was said to have noted that the Saturday�s election were marred by numerous cases of electoral malpractice, lack of transparency and constitutional operational failures in a clear violation of democratic principles . However, the…