By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Amid growing speculation over the likely successor to the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, a credible insider source has provided fresh insight, offering a contrary perspective to the claims earlier made by Engineer Buba Galadima.
According to the source, the contest for the position of INEC Chairman is currently being influenced by three powerful blocs, including one led by a serving Minister who is reportedly pursuing a solo agenda.
It would be recalled that Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman came to an end following his resignation after completing two consecutive terms in office.
The source revealed that “a powerful serving Minister is pushing for a candidate from the South. A former Governor with strong political ties to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from an oil-rich South-South state is leading one of the groups lobbying for the position to come to his state. He recently played a key role in facilitating the defection of his former state Governor to the APC.”
Closely following this group is another faction — reportedly backed by influential figures from the Lagos political axis and certain elements within the security establishment — rooting for a female candidate from Delta State.
Their argument, according to the insider, is built on the need for “a strong female chairperson capable of reforming the system and restoring electoral fidelity to the institution.”
The group has reportedly sold the idea to the Presidency as a move that would boost the administration’s image on gender inclusion and help consolidate female political support nationwide.
In the buildup to the nomination, the name of a prominent former INEC Director from Delta State has featured prominently. The source noted that expectations are high over the possible emergence of the “strong-willed” woman as the next electoral umpire.
“Her credentials are impeccable, and her record of fair dealings with all political parties speaks for itself,” the source said, adding that the involvement of a former Deputy Senate President from Delta State in the push “could not be confirmed.”
The third bloc, according to the insider, comprises hardline political actors within the ruling party determined to ensure that the next INEC Chairman can “deliver the 2027 general elections at all costs.”
“The job is an extremely difficult one and may not be suitable for a completely new person who would need at least two years to fully understand the system,” the source stated. “Such a person could easily be undermined by vested interests within the Commission, especially those overseeing operations, ICT, and logistics.”
The source dismissed speculations linking Justice Liman and other individuals to the position, describing them as “entirely false and off the radar.”
On zoning, the source noted that past INEC Chairmen have largely emerged from the North and Southeast, ruling out the possibility of another appointment from the Southwest.
“Fairness dictates that President Tinubu cannot appoint a fellow Southwesterner to oversee an election in which he will be a major participant,” the source explained.
Given these dynamics, the South-South region appears most favored to produce the next INEC Chairman.
Observers argue that while the South-South has produced INEC Chairmen in the past, the likely appointment of a woman from the region goes beyond regional politics. One former Chairman from the zone, it was recalled, resigned on principle after resisting undue political interference — a precedent that still commands respect today.
Analysts also point out that with no major presidential candidate expected from the South-South in the 2027 elections, the region provides a neutral and strategic balance.
“The international community will likely applaud President Tinubu’s choice if a woman is appointed,” another source said, describing it as a move that would “cement the President’s image as a leader committed to gender inclusion and institutional reform.”
