‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

‎According to insider sources, the directive follows what has been described as Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration that appointed him.

‎Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Mahmood’s efforts to register new political parties at the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

‎The governor also claimed that Mahmood was covertly backing a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

‎Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Mahmood suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

‎The decision has thrown the commission’s schedule into disarray, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Mahmood’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.

‎Tinubu is now expected to submit the name of a new INEC Chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days.

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