Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is Pick for Chairman of INEC

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is named as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prof. Yakubu succeeds Prof Attahiru Jega who completed his tenure in June 2015. Yakubu, a professor of political history and international studies, was Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. He is an expert in guerrilla warfare, terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State confirmed that the State House correspondents at the end of Buhari’s first Council of State meeting approved Buhari's pick as Nigeria's INEC Chariman.

According to the governor, the appointment was approved at the first meeting of the Council of State presided over by Buhari on Wednesday.

The President, he said, also appointed five new national commissioners for the commission.

The national commissioners are Mrs. Amina Zakari (North West); Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (North Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North East); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (South South) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (South West).

The South East is said to still have a sitting national commissioner.