Ever wondered who exactly is in charge of overseeing Nigeria’s elections? Meet Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, commonly known as INEC. For the past eight years, Prof. Yakubu has been at the helm of the organization responsible for administering elections in Africa’s most populous democracy.
Prof. Yakubu has vowed to uphold the independence and integrity of the commission, implementing reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.
Overview of INEC
So, you want to know more about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria and its chairman? INEC is the agency responsible for overseeing and conducting all elections in Nigeria.
The primary responsibilities of INEC
The core responsibilities of INEC include:
- Registering voters and maintaining a National Voter Register
- Registering political parties
- Overseeing the nomination of candidates by political parties
- Conducting and supervising federal, state and local government elections
- Promoting knowledge of sound democratic election processes
- Conducting voter education and sensitization programs
INEC aims to uphold the principles of integrity, transparency and professionalism. The goal is to build on successes and learn from past challenges to continue improving Nigeria’s election system.
Who is the Chairman of INEC?
The current chairman of INEC is Professor Mahmood Yakubu. He was appointed to the position in October 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Professor Yakubu has a long and distinguished career. He has conducted extensive research on political parties, electoral politics, and local government administration in Nigeria.
As INEC chairman, Professor Yakubu oversees Africa’s largest democracy. He leads the commission responsible for conducting free and fair elections, voter registration, and education in Nigeria. Under his leadership, INEC has introduced many reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process, like improving the voter register with biometric verification, increasing transparency in the vote collation process, and approving new voting technologies like electronic voting machines.
Professor Yakubu’s five-year term as INEC chairman was renewed in 2020, allowing him to continue his work modernizing elections and protecting the democratic rights of all Nigerians with his decades of experience and steady leadership.
Professor Yakubu’s Early Life and Educational Background
Mahmood Yakubu was born in May 1962 in Bauchi State, Nigeria. He attended Kobi Primary School and Government Teachers College in Toro for his primary and secondary schooling, respectively. He then went on to the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University), where he became the first and, as of 2015, only Northern Nigerian to receive a first-class degree certificate in history. He studied international relations at Wolfson College in Cambridge, where he received a master’s degree in 1987, and Nigerian history at the University of Oxford, where he received a doctorate in 1991. The Bauchi State Government provided him with a scholarship to study at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
In 1986, Professor Yakubu started working in education as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Jos. From there, he went to the UK to complete his doctoral studies. In 1992, he made a comeback to the university as a Lecturer I. He relocated to the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna as a Senior Lecturer in 1993. He then attained the positions of Reader and Professor, respectively, in 1995 and 1998.
He held various positions at the NDA, including Head of the History Department from 1994 to 1995, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Director of Academic Planning from 1998 to 2000, Member of the Armed Forces Selection Board from 1998 to 2003, and a second term as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from 2002 to 2004. He also served as Chairman of the Management Board of the Staff from 2004 to 2006 and pioneer Dean of the Postgraduate School from 2004–2006. He has more than 50 publications.
Yakubu is a professor of political history and international studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy, as well as a speaker and expert in guerilla warfare. Mahmood was previously the executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. He was appointed to that position in 2007 by ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Mahmood Yakubu is currently the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yakubu also served as the 2014 National Conference’s Assistant Secretary of Finance and Administration. He received an honorary fellowship from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in 2013. On the 21st of October, 2015, Professor Yakubu was appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Yakubu’s reappointment for a second term was announced in October 2020, showing Buhari’s continued confidence in his leadership of INEC. Professor Yakubu also steered INEC in the 2023 general elections. Overall, through competence and commitment to credible elections, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has made a name for himself as an INEC chairman dedicated to upholding his mandate.
He is a Fellow of both the Nigerian Historical Society and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. In 2009, he delivered the convocation lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. In 2013, he took part in the colloquium celebrating the 30th anniversary of Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. He is a doctor of laws (Honoris Causa) from Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, as well as a doctor of letters (Honoris Causa) from Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma and Ebonyi State University in Abakaliki.
With decades of experience as an educator and expert in democratic governance and election administration, Professor Yakubu brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to his role as INEC Chairman. His steady guidance and vision for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy have led to measurable improvements in the electoral process and greater trust in the system.
Major Achievements as INEC Chairman So Far
As INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu has spearheaded several key achievements to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
Voter registration
Under Yakubu’s leadership, INEC has embarked on continuous voter registration exercises to expand the voter register. The commission registered over 14 million new voters between 2017 and 2023, increasing the total number of registered voters to over 93 million. These registration drives, especially in underserved areas, have helped enfranchise more citizens.
Electoral reform
Yakubu championed amendments to the Electoral Act 2010, which were signed into law in 2015. These amendments gave INEC more control over electoral operations, including the power to review election tribunal judgments. INEC also pushed for additional reforms to allow diaspora voting, electronic voting and the use of e-voting machines. While not yet implemented, these proposed reforms aim to improve the credibility and inclusiveness of elections.
Technological innovation
Under Yakubu, INEC has integrated more technology into the electoral process. This includes the introduction of a voter registration database, the Smart Card Reader for voter accreditation, and the IReV portal for uploading polling unit results. INEC also tested electronic voting in select areas during off-cycle gubernatorial elections. These innovations have increased the transparency, security and efficiency of elections.
Improved logistics
INEC, under Yakubu, has worked to strengthen election logistics, including the early deployment of election materials and ad hoc staff to polling units. These improvements have helped reduce issues like missing ballot papers and late commencement of voting witnessed in past elections. INEC also relocated many polling units from private residences to public locations like schools, increasing access for voters.
Overall, through policy changes, technology adoption and logistical upgrades, Professor Yakubu has achieved notable milestones to build credibility and improve the quality of elections in Nigeria. His achievements so far bode well for the continued progress of the nation’s electoral system.
Names of INEC Chairpersons from 1960 to Date
The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), which was formed in 1960, was the name of the election authority in Nigeria until INEC was established in 1998.
Listed below are the Chairpersons of INEC from 1960 till date.
- Eyo Esua (1964–1966)
- Michael Ani (1976–1979)
- Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983)
- Eme Awa (1987–1989)
- Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993)
- Okon Uya (1993, June-November)
- Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998)
- Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000)
- Abel Guobadia (2000–2005)
- Maurice Iwu (2005–2010)
- Attahiru Jega (2010–2015)
- Mahmood Yakubu (2015-present)
Conclusion
So there you have it; now you know exactly who Professor Mahmood Yakubu is and why he’s the man in charge of overseeing free and fair elections in Nigeria. His experience, education, and dedication to civic responsibility make him well-suited for the vital role he plays as Chairman of INEC.
While the job certainly comes with its fair share of challenges and criticisms, Yakubu seems focused on continuous improvement to strengthen the democratic process. Democracy is a work in progress, but with forward-thinking leaders like Professor Yakubu at the helm, the future looks bright.