Amupitan, Liman, Olurode Jostle to Succeed Yakubu as INEC Chairman

The race to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified, with three prominent Nigerians, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Professor Lai Olurode, emerging as leading contenders for the top job.

This comes as Professor Yakubu, who served for ten years and became the longest-serving INEC chairman in history, proceeded on terminal leave earlier this week, handing over to National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, now acting chairman.

Presidential sources told Business Hallmark that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has concluded consultations and is expected to announce Yakubu’s successor after Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of State.

According to the source, barring last-minute changes, Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and respected legal scholar, tops the shortlist and is favoured to get the nod.

Amupitan: The Front-runner

Born on April 25, 1967, in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, specialising in Corporate Governance, Law of Evidence, and Privatisation Law.

A former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, and member of the Governing Councils of the University of Jos and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Amupitan is widely respected in academic and professional circles.

Timothy Golu, a former member of the House of Representatives who studied under him, described Amupitan as “an approachable, disciplined and highly principled scholar who commands respect across Nigeria’s legal community.”

His research interests include electoral reforms, corporate governance, and the legal framework for privatisation. He has published over 50 academic papers and contributed to several national and international research projects.

Justice Liman: The Judicial Option

Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal from Nasarawa State, is also a serious contender. Born in 1959, Liman was called to the Bar in 1984 and served on the bench for more than 25 years.

He has delivered several high-profile judgments, including rulings on the Kano emirate crisis, where he temporarily restrained the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano, and orders halting the suspension and arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

His experience in adjudicating electoral and constitutional disputes has reportedly drawn interest from those within the presidency advocating for a “neutral arbiter” to lead INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Olurode: The Insider

Professor Lai Olurode, a sociologist, lawyer, and former National Commissioner of INEC, brings insider knowledge to the race.

A first-class graduate of Sociology from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Olurode later earned his LL.B and was called to the Bar in 1991. He became a professor of Sociology in 2000 and served as Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, UNILAG.

Olurode was appointed National Commissioner of INEC in 2010, overseeing Oyo, Ogun, and Ekiti States. His supporters argue that his previous electoral management experience and balanced intellectual disposition make him the ideal bridge between academia and administration.

Yakubu Bows Out After Historic Tenure

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who succeeded Attahiru Jega in 2015, leaves office as the first INEC chairman to complete two full terms, a record ten years, and the third to finish a tenure in Nigeria’s electoral history.

Under his leadership, INEC conducted two general elections and several off-cycle polls, introducing technological reforms such as the BVAS and IReV.

President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, thanked Yakubu for his “dedicated service and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.”

Yakubu, in his farewell message, said he was stepping down in accordance with constitutional provisions to allow a smooth transition. “I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

In recognition of his service, President Tinubu conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Agbamuche-Mbu: Second Woman to Head INEC in Acting Capacity

Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer from Delta State, now serves as Acting Chairman. A graduate of the University of Ife and the University of London, she is a qualified solicitor in both Nigeria and the UK, and a certified arbitrator.

Appointed National Commissioner in 2016, she previously edited THISDAY Lawyer and wrote over 120 editions of the “Legal Eagle” column. Her elevation makes her the second woman to lead INEC, following Amina Bala Zakari’s brief tenure in 2015.

As Nigerians await the president’s announcement, all eyes remain on whether Tinubu will favour a technocrat, a jurist, or an electoral insider to steer INEC through one of its most consequential transitions ahead of the 2027 elections.