Controversy has erupted over unverified reports suggesting President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to begin terminal leave before his tenure expires in December.

The speculation gained momentum after INEC abruptly postponed its quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, originally scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting, which would have been Yakubu’s final quarterly engagement in his current role, was cancelled without prior notice.

Prof. Yakubu, who was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, is set to complete his historic two-term tenure in the first week of December 2025. He remains the first INEC Chairman to serve two full terms since the commission’s establishment.

The postponement also affected a planned interactive session with civil society organisations, fuelling speculation about the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

However, the INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, has urged Nigerians to examine constitutional provisions before drawing conclusions.

“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,” Oyekanmi stated when contacted for clarification.

The 1999 Constitution provides clear guidelines on the removal of INEC officials. Section 154(1) states that presidential appointments to such positions require Senate confirmation, whilst Section 157(1) stipulates that removal can only occur “on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate” for misconduct or inability to perform duties.

Political analysts have described the constitutional safeguards as crucial protections for the independence of electoral management bodies.