President Bola Tinubu is presiding over a Council of State meeting in Abuja to present nominees for INEC Chairman.
The session also covers economic, security, and governance updates nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu is presiding over a meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he is expected to present nominees for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The session, which began at about 1:29 p.m. on Thursday, comes two days after Professor Mahmood Yakubu concluded his 10-year tenure as INEC Chairman, a period that covered two administrations and three general elections.
According to the draft agenda obtained before the meeting went into a closed-door session, President Tinubu is presenting three nominees for consideration, Professor Joash Amupitan, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Professor Lai Olurede. The nominees, drawn from legal and academic backgrounds, are being considered to replace Yakubu.
It was earlier reported that at least five candidates had been screened by the Department of State Services and other security agencies before the final shortlist was made.
Among those attending the meeting are 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 are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several state governors, with some represented by their deputies.
Former Heads of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), joined the meeting virtually, while former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were yet to connect as of the time of reporting.
The Council of State, created under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, serves as an advisory body to the President on key national issues, including appointments to the INEC, the National Population Commission, and the National Judicial Council.
Thursday’s meeting is the second to be held under the Tinubu administration. The first session took place in August 2024 amid widespread protests across the country.
Apart from the INEC nomination, the President is also expected to brief the Council on the state of the economy, national security, and other pressing matters before forwarding his final recommendations to the Senate for confirmation.
