As Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ends next month, speculation is intensifying over who will take over the top electoral role. For the first time, a candidate from the South West may be appointed to head Nigeria’s electoral umpire — a historic move if it happens.
Professor Yakubu, first appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2020, is Nigeria’s longest-serving INEC chairman. With his exit imminent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will nominate a successor, as mandated by Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The appointment requires Senate confirmation, while Paragraph 14 of Part I of the Third Schedule stipulates that the appointee must be at least 50 years old and possess “unquestionable integrity.”
Potential Candidates for INEC Chairmanship
Although President Tinubu has reportedly kept his choice secret, insiders say he initially leaned toward a candidate from the South West but has since expanded the shortlist to other regions. Leading names being considered include:
Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman (Court of Appeal)
Professor Lai Olurode (retired UNILAG academic and ex-INEC commissioner)
Kenneth Ukeagu (former INEC procurement director)
Sam Olumekun (current National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education)
Professor Bashiru Olamilekan
Three of the top contenders are from the South West, with one each from the South East and North Central.
Why This Appointment Would Be Historic
Since the establishment of a unified electoral commission, neither the South West nor the North Central has produced an INEC chairman. If Tinubu picks from his home zone, it would mark the first time a sitting president appoints an INEC boss from his own geopolitical region.
However, political observers caution that such a move could spark concerns about neutrality and fairness. Critics argue that appointing a chairman from the president’s region may lead to allegations of bias or favoritism — a risk previous leaders have largely avoided.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Illegally Harvested Kidneys in Nigeria Between 2015 and 2020 Revealed – Prof. Aliyu Abdu
Past INEC Chairmen by Region
Historically, Nigeria’s presidents have steered clear of appointing INEC chairmen from their zones:
Tafawa Balewa: Eyo Ita Esua (South-South)
Shehu Shagari: Michael Ani (South-East), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (South-South)
Olusegun Obasanjo: Ephraim Akpata, Abel Guobadia (South-South), Maurice Iwu (South-East)
Goodluck Jonathan: Professor Attahiru Jega (North-West)
Muhammadu Buhari: Professor Mahmood Yakubu (North-East)
Apart from Amina Bala Zakari’s brief acting stint under Buhari, no sitting president has ever appointed an INEC chairman from his home zone.
As the countdown to Yakubu’s exit continues, Nigerians and political analysts are watching closely to see if Tinubu will break with tradition and make history by selecting the first South West INEC chairman.
