𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐛𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐂 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has said President Bola Tinubu has no constitutional authority to place the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on terminal leave.Falana, who spoke on Friday, explained that the independence of INEC is guaranteed by the Constitution, stressing that its chairman and commissioners cannot be removed or forced to proceed on leave except in line with the law.

He warned that any attempt by the presidency to interfere with the tenure of the INEC boss would undermine democratic institutions and breach the principle of separation of powers.“The INEC chairman has a secured tenure under the Constitution, and no president is empowered to send him on terminal leave,” Falana said, adding that only the National Assembly has a role to play in such matters.