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Staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have held a symbolic send-off for the outgoing chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, marking the end of his controversial tenure with a solemn rendition of the funeral hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”
In a short video making the rounds on social media, several INEC staff members were seen bidding farewell to Yakubu at the commission’s headquarters, singing the Christian hymn traditionally used during burials and farewells.
The mood, while seemingly respectful, carried undertones of irony given the deep controversies that have defined Yakubu’s leadership since the 2023 general elections.
The event, which appeared informal, took place shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally confirmed Yakubu’s exit as chairman of the electoral umpire.
A statement issued by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Yakubu, who was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the electoral body and reappointed in 2020, had completed his 10-year tenure.
However, SaharaReporters had reported that Yakubu’s tenure was not due to end until the first week of December, but President Tinubu had directed him to proceed on early terminal leave.
He was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.
After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.
SaharaReporters earlier exclusively reported that President Tinubu had finally approved the replacement of Yakubu with Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), ahead of the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.
Amupitan will be presented to the Council of State on Thursday in Abuja, barring last-minute changes.
Yakubu’s tenure was marked by widespread controversy, especially after the 2023 general elections, which triggered intense criticism from opposition political parties, civil society groups, human rights activists, pro-democracy advocates, and sections of the international community.
Before the 2023 polls, Yakubu had promised a transparent, technology-driven process, anchored on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
However, the failure of the results portal to function effectively on Election Day, particularly on the presidential and National Assembly elections, led to allegations of vote manipulation and loss of public trust.
The presidential election results, declaring President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, were heavily contested by opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, both of whom accused INEC of failing to uphold its commitment to credibility and transparency.
Yakubu, who blamed the issues on a “technical glitch” during the elections, faced numerous petitions calling for his resignation, including protests in Abuja and Lagos, where demonstrators accused the electoral body of “betraying the will of Nigerians.”
Human rights groups such as SERAP and the Transition Monitoring Group also demanded accountability for what they described as the “technical failure and human compromise” that marred the elections.
Despite the criticisms, Yakubu consistently defended the commission’s integrity, insisting that “the elections reflected the choice of Nigerians” and that logistical and technical challenges were not deliberate.
The mournful song sung by the INEC staff members, traditionally used to bid farewell to the departed souls, appeared to encapsulate both farewell and relief.
