Politics

Who Will Be The Next INEC Chairman, After Yakubu?

Moreover, some schools of thought said that President Tinubu’s political experience is enough to guide him in appointing a competent and unbiased Nigerian to head the commission.

Published

11 months ago

April 11, 2025

OCHEFA

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“In his first public appearance since the rumours emerged, Yakubu formally informed the ECOWAS Assembly that he was attending the ECONEC meeting for the final time as Chairman of INEC because his tenure ends later this year.”

Who Will Be The Next INEC Chairman, after Yakubu? And will he come from the North, South, West or the East region of the country?

Ohibaba.com reports that since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, twelve people have served as the INEC Chairman which first existed as Federal Electoral Commission ( FEDECO) , and now INEC – Independent National Electoral Commission.

List of INEC Chairman 1960 to 2025

1. Eyo Esua (1964–1966),

2. Michael Ani (1976–1979),

3. Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983),

4. Eme Awa (1987–1989),

5. Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993),

6. Okon Uya (1993, June-November)

7. Professor Okon, Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998),

8. Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000),

9. Abel Guobadia (2000–2005)

10., Maurice Iwu (2005–2010),

11.Attahiru Jega (2010–2015),

12. Mahmood Yakubu (2015-present).

According to a report by the Guardian, the outgoing Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday bade farewell to colleagues on the continent amid his call for a stronger regional collaboration among election management bodies in West Africa.

Yakubu, who had earlier been rumoured to have been removed from office by President Bola Tinubu, attended the extraordinary general assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Banjul, Gambia.

He had earlier dispelled claims of his removal when, on Tuesday, he presided over the commission’s weekly management meeting in Abuja.

The rumour mill on Wednesday went on overdrive when leaders of the opposition Labour Party (LP) led a delegation to the INEC office but were received by an acting chairman, Sam Olumekun.Yakubu’s absence had raised concerns, but Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, explained that National Commissioner Olumekun was the INEC acting chairman at the moment, as Yakubu had travelled to the Gambia to attend the ECONEC meeting.

In his first public appearance since the rumours emerged, Yakubu formally informed the ECOWAS Assembly that he was attending the ECONEC meeting for the final time as Chairman of INEC because his tenure ends later this year.

Yakubu told his fellow electoral commissioners, who previously served as president of the ECONEC Steering Committee, to strengthening democratic institutions in their home countries and across Africa.

Yakubu recalled how he had proudly announced that every country in the sub-region was under democratic rule in 2017. Sadly, he observed, that was no longer the case.

He regretted that today, four countries in the region are no longer practising democracy. Yakubu, however, was optimistic and expressed the hope that democracy would soon return to the affected nations.As his tenure nears its end, intrigues are playing out among political, regional and other stakeholders on how to prevail over President Tinubu to determine and influence whom and the region where the next INEC boss should come from.

While a section of the north is already agitating that President Tinubu should be fair and transparent enough to look elsewhere apart from the Southwest to pick Yakubu’s replacement

Others said the National Assembly should expedite that aspect of the constitutional amendment that deals with the appointment of INEC Chairman, with the view that the solely prerogative of appointing the commission’s chairman must be taken away from Mr President and becomes a democratic process.

Moreover, some schools of thought said that President Tinubu’s political experience is enough to guide him in appointing a competent and unbiased Nigerian to head the commission.

They said that as much as former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Yakubu through his prerogative power, the incumbent President should not be blackmailed as to whom he wishes to appoint.

Politics

ADC, NNPP Declare Tinubu’s Electoral Law Unacceptable

In a communiqué read by the NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, they urged lawmakers to immediately reopen the law for review to ensure it guarantees credible elections.

Published

2 hours ago

February 26, 2026

OCHEFA

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Photo: Former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during the press conference.

Opposition leaders on Thursday rejected the Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

During a joint press conference in Abuja today, the opposition leaders (the African Democratic Congress, ADC , and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP) demanded that the National Assembly should begin a fresh process to amend the Electoral Act, insisting that the current law does not reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.

In a communiqué read by the NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, they urged lawmakers to immediately reopen the law for review to ensure it guarantees credible elections.

Ahmed said that the opposition wants a new amendment process that would “remove all obnoxious provisions” and produce a legal framework that reflects the will of Nigerians for “free, fair, transparent and credible” elections.

The group warned that anything short of this would be unacceptable.

Prominent figures at the meeting included former Senate President David Mark, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Others in attendance at the meeting, held at the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, included the ADC national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu and former Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke, alongside other party officials and stakeholders.

Politics

Dust Risen by Electoral Act not over, as Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, others meet

The opposition leaders, who are meeting at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, are expected to address journalists on contentious provisions of the Electoral Act, as well as other key national issues.

Published

5 hours ago

February 26, 2026

OCHEFA

23 Views

Leading opposition figures, including a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are currently gathered at Transcorp in Abuja to present their position on the Electoral Act.

Also present are former Senate President David Mark, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola.

Other stakeholders at the venue include the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Dino Melaye; a former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu; and a former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, among others.

Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties were permitted to nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or by consensus arrangements reached by party leaders.

However, the 2026 Electoral Act, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, restricts parties to only direct primaries and consensus options.

In addition, the new law shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of the previous 12 months.

(Punch)

Politics

Peter Akpe’s Bayelsa Deputy Governor

Akpe, a trusted aide and a maternal cousin to Diri, is a seasoned administrator and politician.

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

OCHEFA

50 Views

•Peter Akpe. Photo: Bayelsa State Govt

Dr Peter Akpe will likely be sworn-in today as the new deputy governor by Bayelsa State House of Assembly

Before his nomination and approval by the Assembly yesterday , Dr Akpe was the Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri.

The development followed the demise of the former deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, after he slumped in the office on December 11, 2025 and was buried on January 30, 2026.

The governor insisted that no action would be taken on appointing a replacement for the deputy governor until after the burial.

Akpe, a former majority leader of the State House of Assembly, was swiftly cleared by the lawmakers, who congratulated him amid cheers.

Akpe, a trusted aide and a maternal cousin to Diri, is a seasoned administrator and politician.

He holds a Ph.D in Administration and Planning from the University of Port Harcourt and has extensive public service experience, including roles as Head of Administration in the Office of the Deputy Governor (2006–2007), Service Commission Member (2008–2011), Leader of the House (2011–2019), Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff at Government House (2020–2024).He is also a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and a part-time lecturer at the Redeemer’s University, Ede.