President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly instructed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of the official expiration of his tenure.
According to insider sources, the directive is linked to what has been described within government circles as Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration that appointed him. While details of the alleged betrayal remain unclear, the sources suggested it played a major role in the president’s decision.
Neither the Presidency nor INEC has issued an official statement on the matter as of press time. Prof. Yakubu, who has presided over the commission since 2015, was reappointed for a second term in 2020 and has overseen two general elections during his tenure.