A quiet send-forth dinner was held on June 15 at the Continental Hotel in Abuja for Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in anticipation of his planned disengagement from office.
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Yakubu, who was appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, had completed two terms and was preparing to leave ahead of schedule. He had cleared his desk, packed out personal belongings, and was set to begin a three-month terminal leave in July before officially handing over in November.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
The plan, according to associates, was to allow President Bola Tinubu to appoint a successor early enough to oversee upcoming elections, particularly the Anambra governorship poll scheduled for November 8, a day before Yakubu’s tenure expires.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
At the private dinner, Yakubu’s close aides and associates marked what they believed was his final exit as INEC boss. His staff had also confirmed movements of suitcases filled with his personal items from the office weeks earlier.
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However, presidential sources said Tinubu directed Yakubu to remain in office until the end of his tenure while the search for a suitable replacement continued. The president was said to be weighing different options amid lobbying in political circles.
Yakubu himself reportedly made repeated attempts to hand over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, one of the most senior national commissioners, but was advised to stay on to avoid complications.
The situation mirrors what happened in 2015 when Prof. Attahiru Jega handed over to Amina Zakari in an acting capacity before Buhari later nominated Yakubu as substantive chairman. Zakari became the first woman to briefly lead INEC, though in an acting role.
Had Yakubu stepped aside earlier as planned, Agbamuche-Mbu could also have made history as the first female to head the commission substantively. For now, the race to succeed him remains the subject of speculation and lobbying as November draws closer.
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