INEC chairman: Agitation for Yakubu’s successor swells

• North-Central should get the slot – MBF, others

• South-East, South-South deserve the position — Ubani, ex-NBA VP

• President’s power to appoint chair major Nigerian paradox – Ogbonna, ex-Ohanaeze spokesman

As the countdown to the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s two-term tenure as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approaches, some vested interests in the stake are casting doubts on the possibility of the country getting it right in the choice of a successor.

Though a few stakeholders envisaged a seamless smooth transition in the choice, others said Nigerians should not hope for a paradigm shift in the status quo based on skepticism associated with the process.

Their views are coming amid growing concern about which of the zones will produce the next INEC chairman, with some prominent persons and organizations stepping up subtle lobby to favour particular zones.

While some individuals and groups are agitating that the nominee should come from the North-Central geopolitical zone, others believe that the authorities might prefer either the South-South or the South-East getting the slot.

Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President of the country is empowered to nominate the chairman of the commission to be forwarded for approval by the National Assembly.

Yakubu, who served two terms of five years each, having been appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, will step down in October 2025.

During his 10 years as INEC helmsman, he has overseen two general elections in 2019 and 2023.

The immediate past national publicity secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo (worldwide), Dr Alex Ogbonna, dismissed the possibility of any due process in the nomination to be made by the president.

He based his position on the “curious” tradition of President Bola Tinubu in making key appointments, expressing reservations on the power of the executive to nominate members of the electoral commission.

“Our President is a Jagaban in all respects. The geopolitical zone does not make meaning to Jagaban. What makes meaning to Jagaban is a man who has been tested and trusted in his own values. The APC has the required majority in the Senate to approve his nominee.

“The Nigerian brand of democracy is rare and unique. It didn’t start today. From the time of Alhaji Shehu Shagari to the present, the president appoints the electoral officers and the general public would expect the appointee to be neutral in an election involving his benefactor.

That is one major Nigerian paradox,” Dr Ogbonna said.

Similarly, a chieftain of The Patriots and former permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Dr Akin Fapounda, expressed pessimism that something good could come out of the subsisting arrangement in appointing the chairman of the commission.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to think if the present system subsists for 2027 elections. No matter the extent of tinkering, the result will be the same.

“My longstanding position is to abolish INEC as a body at the federal level. Let’s have six geopolitical zones. Let them be treated equally. Let each of them produce equal number of legislators, say 30 members each, making 180 altogether.

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“The zones can hold their elections. They can nominate some members as part of the 30. The zonal constitution shall prescribe their mechanism of electing their respective legislators. This system will nullify the use of census figures, as each zone will be equal regardless of population figures. There would be no INEC at Abuja. There would be no glitch,” he said.

A legal luminary, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, queried: “Tinubu’s INEC Chairman will be Yoruba.”

Prodded further, he said: “How will such an appointment undermine the constitution please, and how is it different from what Tinubu has done so far?”

The don said the president has not demonstrated sensitivity to complaints trailing some of his actions.

We need a neutral option – MBF

The national president of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Bitrus Pogu, said the country needs an urgent break from the past in who becomes the next INEC chairman.

Pogu urged President Tinubu to consider the possibility of giving the position to the North-Central, claiming that it is the only zone that has not occupied the seat.

He declared, “Nigeria needs someone who cannot be compromised by money, pressure, or any kind of incentive; that’s the kind of person we need; someone who will stand by the electoral law and not play games.

“When it comes to which zone, I’d say we need a neutral option right now. The President is from the South-West, the Vice President from the Northeast, and the former officeholder is also from the Northeast. It’s time to try someone from the North-Central to bring balance.

Let’s appoint a Christian for a change — not to serve any religious interest, but to balance the equation. The real issue is that we need someone who cannot be compromised.”

Also speaking, a stalwart of the PDP, General John Sura (rtd), added that the next INEC chairman must be someone who has been tested and whose character can be traced back to their record of service in Nigeria, adding that it must be a selfless person, someone sincere and honest at heart, who cannot be compromised.

He stated, “I would suggest we consider people from civil society organizations. We’ve tried the academia, and frankly, they have failed us.

People like Jega — and even up to today, there are still questions about the elections of 2015 under him. Then Mahmood — his first and second elections haven’t spoken well either.

“So, why not look at civil society? Or even the justice system — retired justices who have been fair and consistent in their judgments.

We could also consider a retired armed forces officer, someone who has served the country and knows what it means to stand firm and be just to Nigerians.”

General Sura also canvassed that the next INEC chairman should come from the North-Central since the geopolitical zone has not produced anyone for that office.

“Looking at the history comes with worries. Professor Mahmood Yakubu comes from the North-East. Before him, we had people from the North-West. So far, we’ve not had anyone from the North-Central. We’ve had the late Justice Ovie-Whiskey from the South-South and others from around those regions.

“So, for now, I think it’s fair to say: let’s try someone from the North-Central. That zone hasn’t produced anyone yet. If the President goes to Southwest again, it will look like he’s favoring his own. But picking from North-Central would be fair and balanced,” he said.

Why South-South or South-East should produce INEC chair – Ubani, ex-NBA vice president

A former vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, called for the appointment of the successor of the INEC chairman from the South-South.

Ubani argued that the choice of the successor of INEC chairman will significantly impact the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He said it is logical and fair for the successor to the incumbent chairman to emerge from either the South-South or South-East since President Tinubu is from the South-West and the outgoing INEC chairman hails from the North-East.

Speaking on the character of the potential successor, he said: “Nigerians need someone that can really assure the true independence of INEC.

The candidate must be qualified and must also be a man or woman with a history of fairness, truthfulness, high integrity and a very strong character.

“This is important to usher in good leadership and governance. He must be zealous for proper and unbiased electoral process and the right thing to be done for the nation.”

Given the historical precedent of past INEC chairmen since 1999, Ubani stated that, “The INEC chairman has always come from the South-East, North-West and the North-East, is it not?

“For a very long time, the position of the INEC chairman has been held by the northerners. I think the time is now the government looked towards the South and the South-South, to be specific.

“This is because President Bola Tinubu is from the South-West while Abel Guobadia from the South-East was appointed INEC chairman by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. The government should consider the South-South, if they want to be fair.”

All INEC needs is a man with integrity – Professor Sola Adeyeye

However, a member of the Eighth Senate, Professor Sola Adeyeye, said: “All that INEC needs as Chairman is a man or woman with integrity. If his or her conscience cannot be bought, and if he or she can resist inducements or intimidation from any possible quarters, his/her geopolitical zone does not matter.”

Nigerians should strengthen democratic institutions – Sani, ex-ACF Gen Sec

A chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Z. Sani, said he has never liked the idea of demonising our democratic institutions lest the public lose faith in them, stating that Nigerians should help strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions for performance.

He explained that though he is not a psychologist, any INEC chairman “must be of impeccable character like honesty, integrity, and principles and laden with patriotic courage.”

He said the outgoing one has done very well, considering the huge challenges, stressing: “Since the immediate past chairman of INEC and the outgoing one are from the North, the incoming one can come from the South. This is in the interest of national unity and inclusiveness.”

Zone of the next chairman not too important, but… – Abubakar Bello, ex-Kogi speaker

On his part, a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Abubakar Bello, said the choice of Yakubu’s successor will depend on the mindset of the appointing authority, which in this instance is President Tinubu.

“My advice is that, if the institution is to be truly independent, then the electoral body should be strengthened with the appointment of the next chairman in the mould of its former chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, irrespective of which part of the country he or she may come from.

In essence, the zone of the next INEC chairman is not too important, but the quality of his or her character is key!” he said.

Also reacting, a Bauchi-based legal practitioner, Mr. Shipi Rabo, said he is averse to the power invested by the 1999 Constitution in the president constituting INEC.

His words: “I don’t really like the position that the President is the person to appoint INEC Chairman. I am an advocate of amending the Constitution to transfer the power of appointing INEC Chairman to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“Notwithstanding my position, I suggest that he should appoint someone with experience that will add to the achievements made by INEC, such as the introduction of BVAS. I suggest someone from in-house, maybe a national commissioner in INEC.”

A senior lecturer at the Bauchi State-owned Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Dr. Abdullahi Yalwa, stated the president should focus on a man with proven integrity, dignity, honour, administrative expertise and digital compliance — and above all, a true nationalist as the next INEC boss.

“This is not neglecting sound educational background, without regard to any region, ethnicity or religion. If he can get one from the Igbo, it will be nice to try such. I think for political correctness, a nominee from Lagos should be out of them,” he said.

Also speaking on the subject, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammad Aminu Tukur, simply said: “I’d prefer a clergyman; a religious scholar of repute; a bishop or a sheikh. Let’s try the men of God this time around. Political zone isn’t necessary.”