The National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Bitrus Pogu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to chart a new course in selecting the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure nears its end.
Naijaonpoint reports that Yakubu, who was first appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, will complete his second five-year term in October 2025, having overseen two general elections in 2019 and 2023.
Speaking in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, Pogu stressed the need for fairness and inclusivity in the appointment process.
Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President nominates the INEC chairman, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. However, Pogu noted that the North-Central geopolitical zone has never produced an INEC chairman since the commission’s establishment.
Pogu urged the President to “break from the past” by considering the region for the position, arguing that it would promote equity in national representation.
He declared, “Nigeria needs someone who cannot be compromised by money, pressure, or any kind of incentive; that’s the kind of person we need; someone who will stand by the electoral law and not play games.
“When it comes to which zone, I’d say we need a neutral option right now. The President is from the South-West, the Vice President from the Northeast, and the former officeholder is also from the Northeast. It’s time to try someone from the North-Central to bring balance.
“Let’s appoint a Christian for a change, not to serve any religious interest, but to balance the equation. The real issue is that we need someone who cannot be compromised.”
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