President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of the completion of his tenure.
According to Sahara Reporters, the decision follows what was described as Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration that appointed him. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma is said to have briefed Tinubu after his return from a 12-day working vacation, accusing Yakubu of secretly backing a candidate in the Imo governorship race and attempting to register new political parties close to the end of his tenure, allegedly disrupting Tinubu’s second-term plans.
Following the briefing, Tinubu reportedly instructed Yakubu to step aside from his official duties and embark on terminal leave. The directive has disrupted the commission’s schedule, forcing the abrupt cancellation of Yakubu’s final quarterly meeting with political parties and a planned engagement with civil society groups.
Tinubu is now expected to forward the name of a new INEC Chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days.
Prof. Yakubu, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, succeeded acting chairperson Amina Zakari.
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