Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has stated clearly that President Bola Tinubu has no constitutional right to compel INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to step aside before the end of his tenure – www.naijnaira.com reports.
The claim of a forced leave gained traction after unverified reports alleged that Tinubu had ordered Yakubu to exit office ahead of his October 2025 tenure completion, according to Sahara Reporters.
Yakubu, first appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, is on track to become the first INEC boss to complete two full terms.
Speculation linked the alleged move to accusations that Yakubu “betrayed” the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 elections.
Matters escalated when INEC suddenly cancelled its quarterly meetings with political parties and civil society groups, fueling rumors of a shake-up inside the commission.
Despite the chatter, Yakubu chaired INEC’s management meeting the next day and even approved promotions for junior staff, showing business as usual.
INEC spokesman Rotimi Oyekanmi reminded Nigerians that the constitution is clear on how the chairman can be removed.
The law requires a two-thirds Senate majority and grounds such as incapacity or misconduct before an INEC chairman can be forced out.
Falana stressed that “President Bola Tinubu cannot direct the INEC chairman to proceed on terminal leave,” citing constitutional sections that protect INEC’s independence.
He also recalled similar rumors in 2015 when Prof. Attahiru Jega faced false claims of being pushed on leave, which later turned out untrue.
Article updated 5 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
