Countdown to Yakubu’s Exit: Calls Grow to Strip President of Power to Appoint INEC Chairman

As Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) winds down in November, civil society organisations are intensifying calls to reform how the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body is chosen.

The coalition — including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and 12 others — has urged constitutional amendments to strip the president of the sole authority to appoint INEC’s Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Stakeholders say the current arrangement gives the ruling party undue influence, undermining INEC’s independence and eroding public trust. They are instead advocating a multi-stakeholder selection process that would involve traditional leaders, religious institutions, and civil society, alongside the Council of State.

At a roundtable in Abuja last week, the coalition unveiled the “Citizens Memorandum for Reform of the Electoral Legal Framework”, a comprehensive document containing 37 reform recommendations across 15 strategic objectives.

Part one of the memo proposes 21 constitutional amendments, while part two calls for 16 changes to the 2022 Electoral Act.

“The more inclusive the process, the more credible INEC will become in the eyes of Nigerians,” said Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa.

Other presenters included Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC; Dr Akin Akingbulu of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO); and Paul University Senior Lecturer, Tony Onyima.

The groups argue that reforming the appointment process is critical to ensuring INEC is not just independent on paper, but trusted to deliver credible elections ahead of 2027.