INEC chairman succession begins as DSS vets candidates ahead of Tinubu’s Council of State consultations to replace Mahmood Yakubu

INEC chairman succession has formally commenced as potential candidates to replace Prof. Mahmood Yakubu undergo security vetting ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s consultations with the Council of State.

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Reliable sources confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday that nominees are being screened by the Department of State Services and other agencies before the President presents names to the advisory council.

“Yes, they’re undergoing checks before a name is finally picked. The President will soon convene a Council of State meeting where he will present the names. It is a constitutional requirement,” one source said.

Another insider explained that five to six names were under consideration, noting that while speculation was rife, the process was still tightly controlled.

“It’s not proper to put names out there until confirmation. Interactions are ongoing with security agencies,” the source added.

Prof. Yakubu, first appointed by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and reappointed in 2020, will complete his second term in December 2025, making him Nigeria’s longest-serving electoral umpire.

He oversaw two general elections, introducing biometric authentication and electronic transmission pilots, though technical glitches and disputed results marred the last polls.

The Council of State chaired by the President and comprising serving governors, former heads of state, ex-chief justices, and other senior figures will advise on the appointment. However, its role remains advisory, not binding.

Since 1993, Nigeria’s electoral chiefs have rotated among the country’s regions, from Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in the South-East, who oversaw the June 12, 1993 elections, to Prof. Attahiru Jega in the North-West and Yakubu in the North-East.

The choice of successor is therefore seen as both a political and constitutional balancing act.

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As the INEC chairman succession process unfolds, analysts are watching closely to see whether Tinubu will maintain regional rotation, prioritise reform credentials, or opt for political loyalty in what is arguably one of Nigeria’s most consequential appointments.