The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for his decade-long tenure which it described as transformative and institutionally progressive. The association, however, warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the alleged plot to appoint a partisan loyalist as Yakubu’s successor, cautioning that such a move would threaten the fragile gains made in Nigeria’s electoral system and compromise the 2027 general elections.

In a statement released on Wednesday by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said that under Professor Yakubu’s leadership, INEC underwent significant modernization that strengthened its operational integrity and public transparency. The association cited the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) as two landmark innovations that redefined Nigeria’s electoral process by reducing human interference, curbing manipulation, and allowing citizens to independently verify results from polling units across the country.

“Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure marked a major leap in institutional and technological reform at INEC. He inherited an electoral system struggling for credibility and transformed it into one where verification, not speculation, became the benchmark of electoral integrity,” HURIWA stated.

The rights group acknowledged that while no electoral process is without flaws, Yakubu’s tenure achieved verifiable milestones that strengthened democracy. It noted that during the 2023 general elections, several unexpected outcomes; such as the Labour Party’s victory in Lagos State, the defeat of multiple incumbent governors and political heavyweights, and opposition victories in sensitive regions like Bauchi State, were practical proof that votes could surprise entrenched powers, underscoring a level of independence and transparency never before witnessed in Nigeria’s electoral history.

According to HURIWA, these outcomes serve as a testament to Yakubu’s resolve to insulate the commission from executive manipulation and ensure that citizens’ votes counted. The group stressed that President Tinubu’s decision to confer a national honour on Yakubu was well deserved, given the measurable improvements and institutional reforms achieved during his administration.

However, HURIWA warned that all the progress recorded under Yakubu could be swiftly reversed if the presidency proceeds with any plan to install a politically subservient successor. The association said the integrity of the 2027 elections depends heavily on the independence, competence, and neutrality of the next INEC Chair.

“It would be disastrous for Nigeria’s democracy if President Tinubu appoints a stooge whose primary assignment is to manipulate the electoral process in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election,” the statement read. “Such a move would not only destroy the institutional gains made under Yakubu’s stewardship but also plunge the nation into renewed political instability, electoral distrust, and international disrepute.”

HURIWA called on civil society organisations, the media, professional bodies, and international partners to remain vigilant and insist on a transparent and merit-based selection process for the new INEC chairman. The group emphasised that the next appointment must reflect competence, credibility, and non-partisanship, rather than political loyalty.

The association further urged the National Assembly to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks that safeguard INEC’s independence, including provisions that prevent the executive from unilaterally imposing leadership on the commission. It also recommended that future electoral reforms prioritise redundancy measures, better training for ad hoc staff, and independent audits of result transmission systems to enhance transparency and public confidence.

“INEC’s reforms under Mahmood Yakubu are fragile gains that must not be squandered,” HURIWA cautioned. “If the next leadership is chosen to serve political interests rather than national integrity, Nigeria’s electoral democracy will regress sharply. The people must resist any attempt to turn INEC into a partisan tool.”

HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to defending the independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and ensuring that the 2027 elections reflect the will of the people, not the dictates of political cabals.