Controversy Erupts As Fapounda Vows To Abolish INEC If Appointed

As the tenure of Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), approaches its conclusion in October 2025, growing concerns have emerged over the credibility and transparency of the process for selecting his successor.

Dr. Akin Fapounda, a prominent member of The Patriots and a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, expressed strong reservations about the current appointment system in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune. He questioned whether the framework in place can produce a truly impartial and widely accepted INEC Chairman.

Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has the authority to nominate the INEC Chairman, with the appointment subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. However, Fapounda argued that the process has historically been lacking in transparency and independence.

Yakubu, appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, has served for nearly a decade, overseeing two general elections—in 2019 and 2023.

Fapounda voiced deep skepticism about the potential for reform within the current structure:
“Honestly, I don’t know what to expect if this system remains in place by the 2027 elections. Regardless of any modifications, the outcome is likely to remain the same,” he said.

He went further, reaffirming his long-standing position that INEC should be abolished at the federal level.

“Let’s replace it with six independent geopolitical zones, each treated equally and responsible for conducting its own elections. Each zone should produce 30 legislators, totaling 180 nationwide. The zonal constitutions would define their own electoral mechanisms, removing the need for census-based representation. There would be no central INEC in Abuja, and no technical glitches,” Fapounda proposed.

His comments have stirred debate around the future of Nigeria’s electoral system and whether radical decentralization might offer a more credible and equitable alternative.