October 21, 2015 – President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of governorship elections coming up in Kogi and Bayelsa State.
The governorship election in Kogi State comes up November 21 while that of Bayelsa State comes up December 5, 2015.
The opposition, basically the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had criticized Buhari for appointing Hajia Amina Bala Zakari as Ag chairman shortly after the retirement of Prof. Attahiru Jega.
They had argued that Zakari was an in-law to the President and that he intend using her to rig elections in Kogi and Bayelsa. Specifically, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose had called on the president to remove her to pave way for a free and fair election.
Until his appointment, Yakubu, a professor of political history and international studies, was Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
He was an Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration, at the 2014 National Conference under the Jonathan led administration. He is a first class graduate of history.
