Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp has raised concerns over alleged plans by President Bola Tinubu to influence the appointment of the next Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Atiku’s Special Assistant on Broadcast Media, AbdulRasheed Shehu, claimed on X that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is positioning Tinubu to select a candidate from the South West. He said the party aims to justify the appointment in advance.
Shehu wrote: “The APC has shared this information with Nigerians to shape expectations. They argue that ‘The South West has not yet chaired INEC.’ This sets the stage so that Tinubu’s choice, from his region, will not surprise anyone when Professor Yakubu’s term ends soon.”
Additionally, Shehu shared an infographic showing the geopolitical distribution of past INEC chairmen: seven from the South-South, three from the South East, one from the North East, and one from the North West.
Professor Yakubu took office in 2015. Since then, he has overseen the 2019 and 2023 general elections and several off-cycle governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states. He will leave office in November, clearing the way for a new chairman to prepare for the 2027 general election.
