The stage is now set for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unveil a new chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who formally ended his 10-year tenure on Tuesday.
According to presidency insiders who spoke with Daily Trust, the shortlist for Yakubu’s successor has been narrowed down to three names: Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Professor Lai Olorede.
A senior presidential aide told Daily Trust that Amupitan is currently the front-runner on the list of nominees.
Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that Yakubu stepped down after a consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, handing over to Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, who now serves in an acting capacity.
Explaining his decision, the former INEC boss said he wanted to allow his successor to settle quickly into the task of overseeing Nigeria’s complex electoral process.
“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended,” Yakubu said.
Sources also disclosed that Yakubu had initially considered bowing out around June but was persuaded to remain in office until October to ensure a smooth transition.
President Tinubu is expected to present his nominee before the National Council of State when it meets in Abuja on Thursday.
Barring any last-minute changes, the official announcement of the new INEC chairman is expected to follow the meeting.
Though all three names are under consideration, sources familiar with the process confirmed that Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is “favoured for the position” and may be unveiled as Yakubu’s replacement.
Here is the profile of the possible replacements for Yakubu
Amupitan
He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
Born on April 25, 1967, in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a Professor of Law with specialisation and experience in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law and Privatisation Law and has taught in the university for years.
When contacted, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kinsley Fanwo, declined to comment on the news making the rounds that a professor from the state is being considered to succeed the former INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
He said, “A government doesn’t comment on rumours”.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Timothy Golu, who said he has known Amupitan for over ten years, described him as a well-respected lecturer and astute administrator.
He said while he was a student at the University of Jos, Amupitan was one of the lecturers students could approach easily at any time.
“So, I have no doubt that he would discharge the duties credibly if it is true that he is being considered,” he said.
Professor Amupitan has held several academic and administrative positions including representative of the Faculty of Law in several boards in the University of Jos; Head of Department, Public Law; Dean, Faculty of Law; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors, Member, Governing Council, University of Jos and Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as well as Council of Legal Education among many others.
He is a member of several professional bodies and associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and National Association of Law Teachers.
Professor Amupitan’s research interests are diverse and wide ranging, from providing the Legal Framework for the Privatisation of Public Enterprises in Nigeria, Reform of Electoral Laws in Nigeria, to the Reform of Privatisation Law in Nigeria and Petroleum Industries Law Reform in Nigeria, among others.
He has over 50 journal, book chapter, conference, monograph, case review and research report publications and has contributed to the successful execution of a number of national and internationally funded projects.
Abdullahi Mohammed Liman
Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman is a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Liman, according to reports, was born in 1959 and became a lawyer in 1984. He hails from Nasarawa State. He has been a judge for over 25 years.
He has been associated with a number of high-profile cases, including his ruling that temporarily restrained the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano, and his orders halting the suspension and arrest moves against former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Lai Olurode
Professor Lai Olurode is a sociologist, academic and first-class graduate of Sociology from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos State.
He also studied Law at the UNILAG, where he obtained an LL.B in 1990. He was called to the Bar in 1991.
He joined the UNILAG in 1980 and became a professor of Sociology in 2000. He served as Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
He taught for over 40 years before retiring and was appointed National Commissioner of the INEC on June 30, 2010, overseeing Oyo, Ogun, and Ekiti States.
Daily Trust further learnt that Yakubu had long cleared his desk, prepared his handover note, and was only waiting for the appropriate signal to leave.
A reliable source in the commission told Daily Trust that Yakubu had concluded all arrangements for the Anambra elections and that his exit would not have any negative impact on the exercise.
He said, “There were 13 items in the process and Yakubu had done all except two, which are: to end campaigns and the election itself.”
Former INEC director, Nick Dazang, when contacted, said with the convening of the Council of State by the President on Thursday, “it means we are likely to know his probable successor before next week. I don’t think his departure will affect the work of the commission.”
He added, “The commission is a continuum. It is also an Executive Body as established by Section 153 of the Constitution. There will thus be no challenge for the Commission to form a quorum and to carry out its mandate. Besides, the Commission is ably complemented by Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Secretary to the Commission and Directors/Administrative Secretaries who are the engine room and institutional memory. In time past, similar transitions have taken place seamlessly even when off-cycle governorship elections were afoot.”
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