President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his completion of two tenures in office.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that Tinubu had accepted Yakubu’s departure from the electoral body.

Yakubu, who first assumed office in 2015, officially bowed out on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, after a decade of overseeing Nigeria’s electoral processes. He handed over leadership of the commission to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner, who will now serve as Acting INEC Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor.

“President Tinubu has directed that Professor Yakubu hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor,” Onanuga said in the statement.

He added that in a letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu expressed gratitude to the President and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve as INEC Chairman for two consecutive terms.

“Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015,” the statement read.

During his tenure, Yakubu supervised two general elections (2019 and 2023) and several off-cycle polls, introducing innovations such as the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) and IReV (INEC Results Viewing Portal) to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.

President Tinubu, in recognizing Yakubu’s contributions, said the CON honour was in appreciation of his “dedicated service to the nation and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.”

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has intensified efforts to sustain the peace recently restored in the state after over two years of political tension.

As part of measures to consolidate the calm atmosphere in the oil-rich state, Governor Fubara, on Saturday night, met again with his predecessor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike — this time alongside a larger group of political leaders loyal to the FCT Minister.

The closed-door meeting held at the Port Harcourt residence of elder statesman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba till the early hours of Sunday. It followed a valedictory on Wednesday between the Governor and members of his cabinet.

During the session, Governor Fubara directed commissioners affected by the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers political crisis to step aside, while eight others unaffected by the ruling have since resumed official duties.

Although details of the Governor’s meeting with Wike and his allies were not disclosed, it is believed that both leaders are aligning efforts to uphold the peace accord reached under President Bola Tinubu during the six-month emergency rule in the state.

The renewed engagement also comes shortly after Governor Fubara’s visit to President Tinubu, where he reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining peace and sought presidential counsel on avoiding a relapse into political crisis.

Similarly, the FCT Minister, during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, restated his commitment to the peace process, noting that he had no intention of influencing the selection of new commissioners — a departure from the 2023 scenario when most of the cabinet members were inherited from his administration.

Those present at Saturday’s meeting included the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule; Senators Barinada Mpigi, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, George Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu; Hon. Felix Nwaeke (Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency); Hon. Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency); Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dumle Maol; and House Leader, Hon. Major Jack.

Others in attendance were Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, HRM Sergeant Awuse, Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN), four former Attorneys-General — Frank Owhor, Ken Chikere, Worgu Boms, and Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN); APC South-South Vice Chairman, Victor Giadom; PDP State Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron; and Port Harcourt City Mayor, Alwell Ihunda.

Also present were former Minister of Environment, Udi Odom; HYPRP Board Chairman, Emma Deeyah; former federal lawmakers Chidi Wihioka and Chinyere Igwe; former Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; Boma Iyaye (EDFA, NDDC); Marcus Nle Eji (ED Works/Projects, South South Development Commission); Prof. Henry Ogiri (Federal Commissioner, NPC); Emeka Woke (DG, NOSDRA); Dr. Sampson Parker (Chairman, Rivers State Hospital Management Board); Fred Kpakol (Member, HYPREP Board); former PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah; and Chidi Amadi, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister.

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Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday held a private meeting with David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other senior party leaders in Abuja, fueling speculation about his possible return to the presidential race in 2027.

The closed-door talks came just hours after the ADC held its first national caucus meeting in the capital. Details of the discussions with Jonathan were not made public.

Jonathan, who served as president from 2010 to 2015, has remained silent on his political future but has been the subject of mounting speculation that he may seek another term. Under Nigeria’s constitution, he remains eligible to contest one more time, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving a full four-year term of his own.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also shown interest in drafting Jonathan back into the race. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Senator Abba Moro are among party figures who have confirmed that the PDP has been reaching out to him about contesting its presidential ticket in 2027.

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Key Nigerian opposition figures are holding a closed-door meeting in Abuja under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, political sources said on Thursday.

Those in attendance include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, alongside ADC National Chairman and other opposition leaders.

Details of the agenda have not been made public, but the meeting comes amid growing speculation over possible political realignments ahead of future elections.

Atiku wrote on his X handle

The immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to investigate his six-month stewardship, describing the move as a “fool’s errand.”

Ibas, who ceased to be administrator on September 17 following the expiration of emergency rule in the state, according to Punch argued that the lawmakers lacked the authority to probe him since he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu and supervised by the National Assembly.

The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had resolved at its first sitting after the emergency to examine spending from the consolidated revenue fund and contracts awarded under Ibas’ administration.

Findings show Rivers State received at least N254.37bn in FAAC allocations between March and August 2025, with oil derivation accounting for over 52% of the inflows. Debt servicing deductions totaled N26.31bn, while VAT revenues contributed about 42% of net allocations. Despite this, the state has not published its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, raising transparency concerns.

Civil Society Organisations, led by Enefaa Georgewill and Emma Obe, insist the administrator must account for the billions received, noting that major projects, including the Assembly Complex, remain stalled. They argue the emergency administration was unconstitutional and lacked transparency.

Reacting through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas said:

“If you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations. When you probe the administrator, you’re invariably probing the President and the National Assembly.”

Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who resumed office last week, urged Rivers people to remain prayerful and committed to peace as his administration begins a fresh chapter.

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