2027 ELECTIONS: INEC Chairman Speaks Out On Rumoured Sack — What The Constitution Really Says

As Nigeria inches closer to the highly anticipated 2027 general elections, speculations over the fate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, have sparked heated debate across the country.

Reports had swirled earlier this week that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu allegedly directed the INEC chairman to proceed on immediate leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure in October/November 2025, fueling concerns over political maneuvering and the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire.

However, in a strong rebuttal, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to Prof. Yakubu, urged Nigerians not to fall for political speculations but instead turn to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for clarity.

Quizzed on the reports of forced leave, Oyekanmi said:

> “The first thing you need to do is to find out what the law says about the appointment and removal of the INEC chairman and national commissioners.”

He pointed to Section 154(1) of the Constitution, which states:
“Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the appointment of a person to the office of the chairman or member of any of the bodies so established shall be made by the President and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

More importantly, he highlighted Section 157(1), which provides constitutional safeguards against arbitrary removal:
“A person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate… for inability to discharge the functions of the office… or for misconduct.”

Prof. Yakubu, who has presided over Nigeria’s elections since 2015, is set to complete his maximum two terms (10 years in office) by late 2025. His exit, and the looming appointment of a successor, carries immense weight as Nigerians continue to demand a genuinely free, fair, and credible election in 2027.

Political watchers believe any attempt to cut short Yakubu’s tenure could inflame public distrust in the electoral process, especially with memories of the fiercely contested 2023 polls still fresh.

For now, the INEC chairman remains in office, shielded by constitutional provisions — but the question of who succeeds him when his tenure finally ends is already stirring political intrigues at the highest levels.