Buhari reappoints INEC chairman — a first in Nigeria’s history

President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He is the first electoral boss to be reappointed in the nation’s history.

Yakubu, who was appointed head of the commission in 2015, has another five-year term.

Yakubu’s tenure was expected to end on November 9, 2020.

In a statement, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said Buhari has informed the senate of his decision to reappoint the INEC chairman.

“In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said in accordance with the provision of Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), ‘I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for appointment as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second and final term,” the statement read.

Yakubu’s reappointment, which is subject to confirmation by the senate, comes less than 30 months to the 2023 general election.

Born in Bauchi in May 1962, Yakubu studied history at the University of Sokoto, now Usmanu Danfodiyo University, from 1980 to 1985.

He graduated with a first class honours degree to become the best graduating student in his set and the first student from northern Nigeria to graduate with a first class in history.

In 2007, he was appointed the executive secretary of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), now the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), where he held sway until 2012 after which he was co-opted as a technical member of the implementation monitoring committee (IMC) on the presidential special intervention fund for the revitalisation of Nigerian public universities

He holds a doctor of law from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University as well as doctor of letters from the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.