By Laraba MUREY
National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday proceeded on terminal leave as his tenure nears an end.
Yakubu handed to National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, at the INEC headquarters Abuja.
There have been widespread calls for the power to appointment a new INEC chairman to be taken away from President Bola Tinubu.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), on Friday said President Tinubu lacks constitutional power to send Prof. Yakubu on terminal leave.
Falana asserted a viral report which emerged on Wednesday alleging that Tinubu had ordered the INEC boss to proceed on compulsory leave to avenge his alleged last-minute betrayal of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Unconfirmed reports hint that Tinubu is set to nominate Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) to succeed Yakubu.
Indications are that the president has scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for this Thursday where the matter of the national chairman and a new IGP will be discussed.
