By Adesina Soyooye
The 10-year tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has finally come to an end.
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, September 25, directed him to proceed, immediately on his terminal leave.
The directive is sudden, and unexpected as many expected a short extension in office for him to oversee the Governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for November 8, 2025.
However, pending an official statement which is likely to, also, reveal Yakubu’s possible successor, Lere Olayinka, Media Aide to Nyesom Wike, Minister, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, confirmed Professor Yakubu’s status.
According to Olayinka, “President Tinubu only directed the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of his tenure expiration which is on October 21, 2025, less than 30 days from today.”
Yakubu’s immediate exit has disrupted INEC”s schedule of events. It has, for instance, allegedly, led to the cancelation his final Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Political Parties and a planned session with Civil Society Organizations.
Yakubu was appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by late President Muhammadu Buhari. He took over from Acting Chairperson, Amina Zakari.
His tenure is billed to, officially, elapse on October 21, 2025. However, the directive to proceed immediately on terminal leave means his hands are off everything that concerns INEC. His final duty is to handover to his successor.
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