President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Professor Mahmud Yakubu as new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The appointment was confirmed at the emergency Council of State meeting held today by the president. Opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP and some Civil Society Organisations in the country had kicked against the appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari who was heading the commission before now.
Mahmud Yakubu’s appointment as INEC Chairman is subject to confirmation of the Senate.
Sokoko State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the appointment of the new INEC boss was in line with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State.
He said the Acting chairman of the Commission, Amina zakari, is now the INEC Commissioner representing the North-West.
Meanwhile, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission as presently constituted lacks the power to fix dates for election and conduct them.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Falana said that the electoral commission is currently constituted by two national commissioners and therefore cannot take any valid decision.
“In other words, as the INEC is not validly constituted as required by section 159 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, its decisions are liable to be set aside,” Mr. Falana said, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Even when the INEC was constituted by a chairman ?and three other national commissioners in 2010, the Federal High Court held that the electoral body was not competent to take any decision.”
