Tinubu to present new INEC chairman to Council of State today

President Bola Tinubu is expected to present his preferred candidate for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the National Council of State today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The move follows the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure, who formally handed over to the most senior National Commissioner, Dame May Agbamuche-Mbu, on October 7, 2025.

Sources within the Presidency revealed that Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, is the leading contender and has already undergone security screening. Born in Kogi State in 1967, Amupitan is a Professor of Law with expertise in corporate governance, evidence, and privatization law.

Tinubu’s decision marks a break from the delays that trailed former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which left INEC without a substantive head for months after Professor Attahiru Jega’s exit in 2015. The current president is reportedly keen on ensuring a smooth transition to avoid administrative vacuum in the commission.

According to constitutional provisions, INEC appointments must be approved by the Senate after consultation with the National Council of State. However, several appointments made earlier by President Tinubu into INEC reportedly bypassed this consultation, a situation that drew criticism from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

Aso Rock sources said Tinubu has taken personal interest in the selection process, determined to ensure transparency and public trust in the electoral body. He is said to have resisted pressure from powerful politicians pushing for their preferred candidates, insisting that competence and credibility will guide his choice.

The president’s determination is driven by his awareness of the lasting impact credible elections have on national stability and international reputation. Historical parallels were drawn with leaders like Goodluck Jonathan and Abdulsalami Abubakar, whose commitment to free and fair elections earned them global respect.

Party insiders disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, was consulted by Tinubu but maintained neutrality, offering only institutional guidance to ensure the process remained free of political influence.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the registration of new political parties may have influenced Professor Yakubu’s early exit from office. INEC recently approved a dozen new parties from over a hundred applications, one of which allegedly caused political tension in a South-East state after it was linked to a powerful politician’s ambition.

The Council of State meeting today is expected to determine whether Tinubu will formally announce Professor Amupitan as Yakubu’s successor or delay the decision further. Either way, the president’s next move will signal how his administration intends to shape the future of Nigeria’s electoral process.