The resignation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) calls for renewed discussions about the future of Nigeria’s electoral management.
Development Diaries reports that Yakubu formally turned in his resignation on 03 October, about a month ahead of the end of his tenure, according to an exclusive by Premium Times.
The former INEC Chair first assumed the office 10 years ago in 2015 after his appointment by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who also reappointed him for another five-year tenure in 2020.
While public attention may tilt toward who the next INEC chairman will be, the greater concern should be about appointing someone who will uphold the will of the people and safeguard the credibility of elections.
Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if electoral leadership is beholden to political interests rather than public trust.
The next appointee must be a person whose loyalty lies firmly with the constitution, not with the appointing authority, and whose actions reflect an unwavering commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.
Professor Yakubu’s decade-long tenure deserves commendation for its reforms, particularly in automating key aspects of the voting process.
The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were groundbreaking steps that enhanced transparency and restored some confidence in electoral integrity.
His efforts to promote inclusion, ensuring greater participation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities, also stand out as a progressive legacy.
Yet, these achievements were shadowed by lapses during the 2023 general elections, where widespread logistical failures, delayed transmission of results, and perceived inconsistencies in the application of electoral laws cast doubt on INEC’s credibility under his leadership.
The outgoing chairman’s greatest challenge was not in technology or logistics, but in the Commission’s struggle to remain independent amid persistent political interference.
As Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa rightly noted, a strong electoral system cannot thrive in the absence of institutional integrity.
The next INEC chairman must not only possess the technical expertise to build on the foundation Yakubu laid but must also have the moral backbone to resist political pressure.
The law provides only a framework; it is integrity that breathes life into it. Without trust and accountability, no amount of reform can restore Nigerians’ faith in the ballot.
Therefore, as President Bola Tinubu considers Yakubu’s successor, integrity, impartiality, and courage must be the guiding principles.
The new INEC chair should be a person of impeccable character, with no partisan ties or political debts to repay. The appointment process itself must be transparent and inclusive, signalling to Nigerians that the government values credibility over convenience.
A politically motivated appointment will only deepen cynicism and further erode trust in the electoral system.
For the incoming chairman, the task ahead is daunting but not insurmountable. Restoring public confidence must be the top priority.
This will require rebuilding institutional independence, strengthening the transparency of result collation and transmission, and ensuring that every reform is backed by genuine political will.
The acting chairperson, May Agbamuche-Mbu, and whoever eventually assumes the substantive role must also focus on purging the system of partisanship, enhancing voter education, and ensuring that elections truly reflect the voice of the people, not the preferences of the powerful.
Additionally, citizens must make their voices count by demanding that President Tinubu appoint a person of unquestionable integrity, someone with no political baggage, no partisan loyalties, and a proven record of fairness.
The public should insist that the selection process be transparent and merit-based, not a reward for political allegiance.
Photo source: INEC
