BREAKING: Senate Approves Mahmood Yakubu’s Reappointment As INEC Chairman

The Nigerian Senate has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Professor Mahmud Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second five-year term.

Yakubu’s reappointment was confirmed during Tuesday’s plenary of the Senate.

His confirmation followed the presentation of the the report of Senate Committee on INEC by its Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 25 written to the Senate to seek Yakubu’s confirmation for a second term in office.

Presenting the report, Gaya said that the committee, while screening the nominee, found him capable and worthy for reappointment.

“The committee found out that there was no petition against him, the nominee displayed high level of intelligence and he is a man of integrity,” Gaya said.

He further said that the confirmation of the nomination of the reappointment of the nominee was made under Section 153(1F) of the Constitution.

Contributing, Deputy President of the Senate, Omo Ovie-Agege, said “this is the first time we are having an INEC chairman renominated for a second term.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should be commended because he saw what the majority of Nigerians saw in the way and manner Prof. Yakubu conducted the affairs of INEC in the last five years.”

He said that the committee by recommending Yakubu for a second term, showed that the committee recognised the limitations placed on INEC by the enabling law, the Electoral Act.

“By this, they have come up with creative ideas on how we can sanitise the system by recommending the nominee,” he said.

Also, Sen. James Manager (PDP-Delta), described the nominee as a man who had displayed rare courage and impartiality in the conduct of elections during his first term.

“I urge the nominee that he should be more cautious of the INEC staff. This is because the name he will make when renominated is more important than his achievements in the past.

“He should do the job to leave a legacy that is more than what he had achieved,” he said.

Senator Sandy Onor, who described Yakubu as an unbiased individual, said he was a square peg in a square hole.

“The nominee has demonstrated competence, has shown indeed that he was an unbiased umpire. Today, politicians don’t go into elections scared of whether they will be oppressed or not.

“Going by his performance on the first term, that he will do even better this second term. I’m looking forward to a situation where we will digitalise our processes even more.”

The upper chamber also confirmed the nomination of Sanusi Garba as Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Also confirmed was Dr Musiliu Olalekan Oseni and Aisha Mahmud as Vice Chairman and Commissioner of NERC, respectively.