Court Orders Arrest of Ex-INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged contempt of court.

The order, dated September 29, 2025—just days before Yakubu stepped down from office—stemmed from his alleged failure to comply with a subsisting judgment directing INEC to relist the national officers of the Action Alliance (AA) on its official website.

The Action Alliance had earlier dragged INEC and Yakubu before the court in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, accusing the commission of ignoring a ruling delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi. The judgment had mandated INEC to recognise the Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led faction as the authentic leadership of the party and to upload the names of its National Executive Committee (NEC) members and state chairmen on the commission’s portal.

Although INEC claimed it had complied with the ruling, the AA insisted that Yakubu’s continued refusal to upload Omoaje’s name as national chairman amounted to disobedience of a valid court order. The court described the omission as a clear act of contempt.

In the fresh order signed by Mr O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, the judge directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest Yakubu and commence committal proceedings within seven days. The court also awarded a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors.

Professor Yakubu, who served as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025, remains Nigeria’s longest-serving electoral chief. He was succeeded in an acting capacity by May Agbamuche-Mbu following his exit from office.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to appoint a substantive INEC chairman during the National Security Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025.