President Bola Tinubu is presiding over a meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he is presenting nominees for consideration as the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The hybrid session, which began at 1:29 p.m. on Thursday, comes 48 hours after Prof. Mahmood Yakubu left office, ending a 10-year tenure that spanned two administrations and three general elections.
According to a draft agenda sighted by The PUNCH before the meeting moved into closed session, Mr. Tinubu will present three nominees for the Council’s consideration: Prof. Joash Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman and Prof. Lai Olurede. The three — legal and academic professionals — are being screened as possible successors to Yakubu.
The PUNCH earlier reported that at least five candidates underwent background checks by the Department of State Services and other security agencies.
Former heads of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) joined the meeting virtually. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had not joined by the time of filing.
Those physically present included Vice President Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila. Also in attendance were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several state governors or their deputies.
The Council of State, established under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, advises the President on key national issues, including appointments such as the INEC chairman, members of the National Population Commission and the National Judicial Council.
Thursday’s meeting is the second Council session under the Tinubu administration; the first was convened in August 2024 amid nationwide protests. The President is expected to brief the Council on the economy, security and other national matters before forwarding his final recommendation to the Senate for confirmation.
