President Bola Tinubu delayed the exit of Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in June.

The Cable reported that an unpublicised send-off dinner was held in honour of Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the Continental Hotel in Abuja on June 15.

Afte clearing his desk in preparation of handover to one of the senior national commissioners so that he could proceed on a three-month terminal leave in July, President Bola Tinubu directed Yakubu to serve out his full term.

The president wanted to use the period to seek Yakubu’s successor. Yakubu was appointed in October 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was re-appointed for another term of five years in 2020.

He superintended the 2019 2023 elections which were marred by violence, and electoral malpractices. In 2023, INEC result viewing portal (IREV) failed to upload the presidential results as he promised, overheating the nation.