Ex-INEC Chairman, Yakubu’s ambassadorial nomination raises morality question – Situation Room

Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has decried the nomination of a former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as ambassador by President Bola Tinubu.

The group, in a statement issued by its Convener, Yunusa Ya’u on Tuesday in Abuja, said Yakubu’s nomination raises serious questions about propriety, public morality and the long-term integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

Highlighting reasons for considering the nomination as inappropriate, it said that it would undermine public trust in the electoral process.

The group also said that the nomination was capable of setting a dangerous precedent for future elections.

“It signals to serving INEC leadership and staff that cooperation with incumbents during elections could lead to personal reward, political appointments or career advancement.

“Such a perception fundamentally compromises the neutrality of the electoral umpire and threatens the credibility of future elections, including the 2027 electoral cycle.

“Democracy collapses where the election management body is perceived as beholden to political actors.

“While no law forbids the nomination of former INEC chairpersons to political or diplomatic appointments, the spirit of democratic ethics demands a cooling-off period before such individuals are considered for positions conferred by political office holders,” it said.

The organisation, therefore, urged the senate to safeguard the independence and credibility of INEC, uphold public trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions and prevent the ‘normalisation of political patronage’ for electoral officials.

Our correspondent reports that the Situation Room is made up of over civil society organisations working in support of credible elections and governance in Nigeria.