President Bola Tinubu on Thursday presided over a meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he is expected to submit nominees for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The hybrid meeting, which commenced at 1:29 p.m., comes two days after Prof. Mahmood Yakubu completed his 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman. Yakubu’s leadership covered two administrations and oversaw three general elections.
According to a draft agenda obtained by The PUNCH before the session went into a closed-door phase, President Tinubu will present three nominees to the Council for consideration. The candidates are Prof. Joash Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Prof. Lai Olurede, all seasoned legal and academic professionals being screened as potential successors to Yakubu.
It was earlier reported that at least five individuals had undergone background checks conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies before the shortlist was finalized.
Among those attending the meeting virtually are former Heads of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), while former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were yet to join as of the time of reporting.
Those physically present include 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 attending are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and several governors, with some represented by their deputies.
The Council of State, established under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, serves as an advisory body to the President on key national matters, including appointments to the INEC, National Population Commission and National Judicial Council.
Thursday’s session marks the second Council of State meeting convened under Tinubu’s administration, the first was held in August 2024 amid nationwide protests.
The President is also expected to brief the Council on the state of the economy, security, and other pressing national issues before forwarding his final recommendations to the Senate for confirmation.
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