Speaking in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday at the opening of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), Prof. Yakubu said he is attending the meeting for the final time as Chairman of INEC.
Yakubu, who previously served as President of the ECONEC Steering Committee, thanked his colleagues and the Network for their unwavering support and collaboration over the years, urging them to continue upholding the values of electoral integrity and regional unity.
Yakubu’s declaration came a few days after rumour of his alleged sack by President Bola Tinubu went viral on social media.
The report claimed the INEC chairman had been removed from office and replaced with a certain Professor Bashiru Olamilekan.
Yakubu also used the occasion to reflect on his time within the body and called for stronger collaboration among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in West Africa.
Speaking to his fellow electoral commissioners, Yakubu took a moment to honour past members of the Network who contributed to strengthening democratic institutions not just in their home countries but across Africa.
