Tinubu convenes Council of State meeting to consider new INEC Chairman

By Kunle Sanni –

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday presided over a meeting of the Council of State at the State House, Abuja, where he is expected to present nominees for consideration as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The hybrid session, which commenced at 1:29 p.m., comes less than 48 hours after the exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who completed his 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman on Tuesday. This marks the first Council of State meeting since Yakubu’s departure.

According to a draft agenda sighted before the meeting began, President Tinubu is expected to present three nominees for consideration: Prof. Joash Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Prof. Lai Olurede. The trio — renowned academics and legal experts — are being considered as potential successors to Yakubu, whose tenure spanned two administrations and three electoral cycles.

The meeting, which also covers discussions on national security and other pressing issues, drew the attendance of key government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.

Also present were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several serving and former state governors. Some states, including Bauchi, were represented by their deputy governors.

Former Heads of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) joined the meeting virtually, while former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were yet to join when the session moved into closed-door deliberations.

Established under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, the Council of State advises the President on matters of national importance, including appointments to INEC, the National Population Commission, and the National Judicial Council.

Thursday’s meeting is the second under the Tinubu administration, the first having been convened during the nationwide protests in August 2024.