BREAKING: Court Orders Arrest of Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Hours After Leaving Office

A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has reportedly issued an order for the arrest of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, just hours after his official exit from office.

The dramatic order came shortly after May Agbamuche-Mbu was named Acting Chairman of INEC, taking over from Yakubu following the end of his two-term tenure.

According to preliminary reports, the arrest order is linked to a series of corruption and misconduct petitions filed against the former electoral chief many of which resurfaced amid lingering controversies from the 2023 general elections.

Sources close to the matter suggest that the court’s decision was influenced by new evidence submitted in relation to alleged financial irregularities and abuse of office during Yakubu’s leadership of the commission.

The news has sparked nationwide reactions, with Nigerians sharply divided over the implications for electoral accountability and the rule of law. While some view the order as a long-overdue step toward transparency, others see it as politically motivated and potentially destabilizing.

Prof. Yakubu, who served as INEC Chairman from 2015 to 2025, has consistently defended the integrity of his administration and denied any wrongdoing.

As of press time, neither Yakubu nor INEC’s legal representatives have issued an official statement regarding the reported arrest order.