There is a plot to replace Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a malleable replacement ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, The Vanguard reports.

The plot according to Vanguard is being hatched by powerful allies of the president outside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

The report indicated that the power play had been executed by a former South-South governor and a member of the class of 1999.

Further investigations revealed that President Bola Tinubu is yet to be fully boarded on the plot’s platform.

Yakubu’s tenure ends in November of this year when he will have served two terms.

The move to replace Yakubu comes at a time when the electoral body is facing massive distrust after the 2023 general elections and the off-season elections it conducted.

A number of names (withheld by Vanguard) are already being put forward for possible consideration.

Unfortunately, the individuals positioned by the plotters had served as National Commissioners of the Commission, and Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, who did not dress themselves in shining armour during their tenure.

In fact, the seemingly plausible consideration for their choice is the extent of their malleability, which would mean an erosion of INEC’s credibility in conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

NBA