Power Struggle Approaching as Yakubu's Term as INEC Chair Nears End

The upcoming 2027 presidential elections in Nigeria have sparked fresh intrigues, with the succession process for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) being compared to the drama of 2015. The tenure of current Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, ends in November 2025.

The succession process has been marked by political interests putting forward names for consideration as the successor to Professor Yakubu. Some of these individuals have previously served as National Commissioners or Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). However, their track records have been questioned, raising concerns about a potential repeat of the manipulation that marred past elections in Nigeria.

The 2003 and 2007 general elections were widely described as flawed. The controversy surrounding the appointment of Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman of INEC in 2015, a relative of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, left INEC in a storm of credibility questions. This appointment, which bypassed Ambassador (Dr.) Ahmed Wali, who was senior to Zakari in INEC's hierarchy, sparked nationwide uproar.

The ongoing succession manoeuvres have triggered memories of past controversial elections in Nigeria. The exit of reformist chairman Professor Attahiru Jega in 2015 led to these ongoing succession manoeuvres. President Bola Tinubu has not taken a position on who will succeed Professor Yakubu.

As the nation prepares for the 2027 elections, expectations about the candidacy for Yakubu's successor are yet to surface. Fresh intrigues are emerging over plots to install a "suitable replacement" for Professor Yakubu. The avoidance of a repeat of such manipulation in the succession process is understood to be crucial for the integrity of the upcoming elections.

In a bid to maintain transparency and prevent any potential conflicts of interest, it is essential that the succession process is conducted with utmost fairness and impartiality. The future of Nigeria's democratic process hangs in the balance, and the choice of the next INEC chairman will play a significant role in shaping the nation's political landscape.