Senate confirms Mahmood Yakubu’s appointment as INEC chairman

The senate has confirmed Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Muhammadu Buhari reappointed Yakubu in October. The academic is the first to be reappointed as the head of the electoral body in the country’s history.

The upper legislative chamber confirmed Yakubu’s nomination after Ibrahim Gaya, chairman of the committee on INEC, presented a report for consideration by the senate.

While presenting his report on Tuesday, Gaya said Yakubu is qualified to occupy office again as chairman of the electoral commission.

“The nominee displayed high intelligence and he has the temerity to hold office of the chairman,” the chairman said.

“The nominee is not affiliated to any political party and he has not attended an political rally or campaign.

“The nominee has met the requirements of section 451 and section 41 (i)(ii) of the third schedule part 1 f contained in the 1999 constitution of the republic of Nigeria as amended.”

The senators who contributed to the debate on the confirmation of Yakubu supported the president’s decision to reappoint him.

His nomination was approved unanimously after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put it to a voice vote.

Yakubu was appointed head of the commission in 2015 after the expiration of the tenure of Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman.

His reappointment comes less than 30 months to the 2023 general election.

Yakubu had a first class degree in history from the University of Sokoto — now Usmanu Danfodiyo University — in 1985.

He was appointed the executive secretary of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), now the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), in 2007.

Yakubu was born in May 1962.