Buhari Appoints Mahmud Yakubu As INEC Chairman

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday nominated Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, as new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after an emergency meeting of the Council of State, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that the council was also briefed on the nomination of five national commissioners for the electoral body.

Tambuwal said that the council had considered and confirmed the nominees in conformity with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly Sections 154 (1 and 3 and 156 (3).

He said that the sections conferred on the President the powers to appoint a chairman and national commissioners for INEC, in consultation with the Council of State.

“The situation in INEC, as at today, is such that requires for this emergency meeting to approve the nominations by Mr President.

“The law requires that a minimum of four commissioners should form a quorum in INEC, which is not the case as today, because the tenures of 11 of the national commissioners of INEC has expired,’’ Tambuwal said.

He gave the names of the national commissioner-nominees as: Mrs Amina Zakari from Jigawa representing North-West; Dr Antonia Okoosi-Simbile from Kogi, North-Central; and Alhaji Baba Arfo, Borno, representing North-East.

Others are Dr Mohammed Lekki from Edo, representing South-South and Prince Soyebi Adedeji Solomon, Ogun, representing South West.

Tambuwal said that the council also agreed to stagger the confirmation of the appointment of commissioners of INEC.

He said this was in view of the situation the country found itself today, ‘’whereby the tenures of individual commissioners expired almost over the same time.

“To avert future occurrence of such a situation, the council agreed that the next six of the commissioners be submitted to the council, subsequently for its approval,’’ he said.

He said that the names would be forwarded to the National Assembly for confirmation.

Asked if the council deliberated on the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa governorship polls, the governor said it was not a matter for the council to discuss.

“It is a matter that is strictly under the purview of the commission itself, so it didn’t come up at the council meeting.’’

On who is going to supervise the Kogi and Bayelsa polls, Tambuwal said“ I’m sure it is the new chairman that will now supervise and conduct the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa.’’(NAN)