KEY POINTS

• President Bola Tinubu swears in two new INEC commissioners while INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu clarifies his position amid rumors of his removal.

• Yakubu announces that INEC has submitted 142 electoral reform recommendations to the National Assembly, eight of which require constitutional amendments.

• INEC continues its collaboration with the National Assembly, with plans for public hearings and new electoral legislation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

President Bola Tinubu swore in two newly appointed commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during a brief but significant ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Channelstv reports that this event comes amid ongoing political discussions surrounding the future of INEC leadership.

During the ceremony, Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, was also present, and he took the opportunity to address widespread rumors regarding his position. The rumors, which had suggested that Yakubu had been removed from office, were swiftly debunked by the INEC Chairman himself.

“I don’t think we need to waste time on unnecessary speculation. As far as the law is concerned, and to the best of my knowledge, I remain the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the federation under the Constitution, and the Returning Officer for the presidential election under the Electoral Act,” Yakubu said. He emphasized that no action had been taken by President Tinubu to remove him from office, assuring the public that he continued to serve in his official capacity.

Yakubu’s clarification comes at a time when political speculation about INEC leadership has been growing, especially with upcoming elections. He sought to quell any concerns regarding the stability and continuity of the Commission’s leadership.

Yakubu reveals INEC’s 142 electoral reform recommendations submitted to National Assembly

In his comments, Yakubu also highlighted the ongoing efforts of INEC to reform Nigeria’s electoral process, a topic that has been at the forefront of national discussions. As part of INEC’s internal review of the 2023 general elections, the Commission has forwarded 142 recommendations to the National Assembly aimed at improving the electoral system.

“We reviewed the 2023 general elections on our own. We engaged with stakeholders and came up with 142 recommendations. Out of these, eight require constitutional or Electoral Act amendments, and we have already discussed them with members of the National Assembly,” Yakubu explained.

The INEC Chairman expressed satisfaction with the National Assembly’s responsiveness, noting that discussions on the proposed amendments have been progressing well. “So far, so good. We are happy with our discussions with them and the speed at which they want to proceed to ensure necessary amendments are made ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Yakubu’s comments underscored the urgency of ensuring that the necessary legislative changes are made in time for the next general elections, which are only two years away.