Professor Mahmood Yakubu will on Monday 9th November, step aside as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is expected to hand over to an interim electoral commissioner until his nomination for another five-year term is confirmed by the Senate.
INEC commissioner for voter education Barrister Festus Okoye in a phone interview with Control TV in Lagos said section 155 of the act establishing the commission allows for a 5 year term for the INEC Chairman and other commissioners appointed at the same time to vacate the commission on the expiration of their tenure; in this case Monday the 9th of November 2020 for INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu.
The senate is expected to give a final word of confirmation on whether of not he retains his office for another 5year term as chairman of the electoral commission
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday, stepped aside from his substantive position pending when the senate considers his reappointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate, is already considering an emergency session to confirm Yakubu’s reappointment Control TV gathers; or at the very least, refer him to the Senate Committee on INEC as part of measures to quicken his confirmation.
With by-elections expected in some parts of the country this year, the situation has become dire compounded by his pending confirmation by the Senate.
sources say the commission has already begun to mull new dates for the elections. While other elections might hold later this year, that of Lagos and Imo States might not hold till the first quarter of next year as Yakubu intends to personally over see those two.
Another meeting where the decision on the by-elections would be taken has been slated for tomorrow, Monday 9th November 2020, with the stakeholders and the acting chairman also appointed to oversee the other by-elections apart from Lagos and Imo, which the chairman intends to supervise by himself.
Sworn in on November 9 2015, Yakubu’s tenure officially ends November 9 2020 and has since been re-appointed for a second term. But he is unable to assume duties until his approval by the Senate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, believes that Yakubu’s reappointment as INEC chairman will serve as a momentum to credible elections in Nigeria.
Professor Yakubu was first appointed by President Buhari in November 2015.
(C) Control TV 2020.
