Amid recent rumors and media speculations suggesting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has been sacked by the President, Bola Tinubu, the INEC Chairman has openly declared that he is still very much around and “still in charge of electoral businesses.”
Speaking to reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore in two new national commissioners and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Prof. Yakubu said there was no truth to the claims of his removal.
“There’s no need to waste time on unnecessary speculations,” Yakubu said. “As far as the law and the constitution are concerned, I remain the Chairman of INEC and the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation. I’m also the Returning Officer for the presidential election.”
The FEC meeting was largely focused on strengthening democratic institutions, with Tinubu performing the swearing-in ceremony for two newly confirmed INEC national commissioners—filling the vacancies from the Northwest and Southeast geopolitical zones.
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The INEC Chairman acknowledged the recent loss of another commissioner, Major General Abubakar Alkali (rtd.), and noted that with the new additions, INEC now has almost a full complement of its 12 national commissioners.
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On the subject of electoral reform, the INEC Chairman said the Commission has been actively working with the National Assembly to review and improve the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. A total of 142 recommendations emerged from INEC’s post-2023 election review, with eight requiring constitutional or legal amendments.
“We are happy with the speed of discussions with lawmakers,” he said, adding that a new electoral bill is expected to emerge after a public hearing by the National Assembly.
