President Muhmmadu Buhari has re-nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for a second term in office.
The President had sent Yakubu’s name to the Senate in a letter to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan to be considered again for the office.
Mr Yakubu was first appointed INEC chairman in November 2015. He succeeded Attahiru Jega, who supervised the 2015 general election.
Mr Yakubu supervised the 2019 general election and off-cycle elections in states such as Kogi, Edo and Ondo.
While many of the elections he supervised have been criticised by local and international observers for inadequacies, most observers commended the two most recent elections, the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The Edo election was won by the main opposition party, PDP, while the Ondo election was won by Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.
Mr Yakubu’s re-nomination was announced by Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a statement.
According to Mr Adesina, in a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari said in accordance with the provision of Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), “I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for appointment as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second and final term.”
