Prof. Mahmood Yakubu sworn-in as INEC Chairman for another 5-year term

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has sworn in Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his second 5-year term.

He was sworn-in at the Executive Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja and it was held just before the commencement of the 27th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

Prof. Yakubu at his swearing-in, described his appointment as the Chairman of the electoral body as a “privilege.”

In his words:

“We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and they will continue to get better.

The National Assembly is holding a public hearing on the amendment of the electoral legal framework. This is important and this time around, working with the National Assembly, we’ll ensure a speedy passage of the amendment bill and once it is assented to, it will help us enormously in confronting the challenges ahead.

The preparations for 2023 general elections have proceeded in earnest, we need certainty and therefore the electoral legal framework is fundamental, without which we cannot formulate our regulations and guidelines. Without our regulations and guidelines, we cannot conclude work on the manual for the training of ad-hoc staff for the elections.

So from here, I am going to proceed to the National Assembly, so work begins in earnest and we have already started.”