SITUATION ROOM STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF FORMER INEC CHAIRMAN, PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AS AMBASSADOR
Issued: Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 in Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room expresses deep concern over the recent announcement by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, nominating Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for appointment as an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This nomination raises serious questions of propriety, public morality, and the long-term integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system as follows:
- Undermining Public Trust in the Electoral Process
Prof. Yakubu presided over the highly controversial and heavily criticised 2023 General Elections, whose conduct and outcome faced significant public questioning, litigation, and broad national dissatisfaction. The integrity of that process remains a subject of national debate. To now elevate the same individual to a prestigious diplomatic position – directly conferred by the principal beneficiary of the election he conducted – creates an unmistakable impression of reward for political favour. This is deeply damaging to public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
- Dangerous Precedent for Future Elections
The nomination sets a grave and dangerous precedent: it signals to serving INEC leadership and staff that cooperation with incumbents during elections could lead to personal reward, political appointments, or career advancement. Such a perception fundamentally compromises the neutrality of the electoral umpire and threatens the credibility of future elections, including the 2027 electoral cycle. Democracy collapses where the election management body is perceived as beholden to political actors.
- Constitutional and Democratic Considerations
While no law forbids the nomination of former INEC Chairpersons to political or diplomatic appointments, the spirit of democratic ethics demands a cooling-off period before such individuals are considered for positions conferred by political office holders. This is standard practice in democracies that value electoral independence. The absence of such restraint in this case further reinforces public concerns that election management positions may be used as political instruments.
- Call on the Nigerian Senate to Protect Electoral Integrity
As the constitutionally assigned confirming authority, Situation Room urges the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decline the confirmation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The Senate must act to:
- Safeguard the independence and credibility of INEC;
- Uphold public trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions; and
- Prevent the normalisation of political patronage for electoral officials.
Nigeria cannot afford a democracy where those who conduct elections are rewarded by the winners. Such a climate erodes democratic values and weakens the legitimacy of public institutions.
Conclusion
Situation Room calls on all stakeholders – civil society, the media, political leaders, and citizens – to rise in defence of Nigeria’s democracy. The health of our republic depends on the strength and independence of our electoral process. Prof. Yakubu’s nomination is ill-timed, inappropriate, and injurious to that independence.
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SIGNED:
Yunusa Z. Ya’u
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Mimidoo Achakpa
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Franklin Oloniju
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
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The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible elections and governance in Nigeria numbering more than seventy. The Steering Committee is made up of: Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, Life and Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.
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