Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has officially announced that he will step down from his position later this year.
Yakubu made this revelation during his address at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) held in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday. He indicated that this meeting would mark his final appearance as Nigeria’s electoral chief, signaling the conclusion of his second and final term.
Since his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015, Yakubu has led INEC through significant electoral events, including the contentious 2019 and 2023 general elections. His initial five-year term was extended for an additional five years.
In his speech, Yakubu expressed gratitude for the collaboration and support he received from his ECOWAS counterparts, highlighting the critical importance of upholding electoral integrity and promoting regional unity. He urged continued cooperation among election management bodies (EMBs) in West Africa to strengthen democracy across the region.
His announcement comes on the heels of recent speculation regarding his potential removal by President Bola Tinubu, which the presidency promptly denied. This speculation intensified after INEC posted on social media about Sam Olumekun, referred to as the acting chairman, hosting a delegation from the Labour Party, led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti. However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, clarified that Olumekun was merely filling in for Yakubu during his attendance at the ECONEC meeting.
While in Banjul, Yakubu reflected on the successes and challenges faced during his tenure, commending the contributions of past members of ECONEC, which has worked diligently to bolster democratic institutions in West Africa. He voiced concerns over the current state of democracy in the region, noting that four countries have recently experienced a decline in democratic governance. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that these nations would soon return to democratic rule.
Yakubu’s address received strong support from fellow EMB leaders, who acknowledged ECONEC’s essential role in sustaining democratic practices throughout the region. The assembly brought together chairpersons and vice-chairpersons from various countries, including Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
