President Tinubu to Present INEC Chair Nominees at Thursday’s National Council of State Meeting

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to preside over a crucial meeting of the National Council of State on Thursday, where the nomination of potential successors to Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will take center stage. The meeting is expected to shape the next phase of leadership at the Commission as Nigeria prepares for upcoming electoral cycles.

According to sources, the President will formally present a shortlist of candidates for consideration by the Council, which comprises former Presidents, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, serving governors, and key national leaders. The discussion is expected to focus on ensuring a transparent and credible transition of leadership within the electoral body.

The tenure of Professor Yakubu, who has served since 2015 and was reappointed in 2020, is gradually drawing to a close, prompting growing public interest in the process of appointing his successor. Under his leadership, INEC has overseen two general elections and implemented several reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral integrity.

Thursday’s meeting, to be held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, will also deliberate on other pressing national issues, including security, the economy, and governance reforms. The outcome of the Council’s recommendations on the INEC leadership is expected to significantly influence the Commission’s direction in the coming years.