“Nigeria Risks Civil War”: Buba Galadima Warns Tinubu Over Appointment of New INEC Chairman

• NNPP chieftain, Buba Galadima, weighed in on the debate over who should emerge as the new INEC chairman, replacing Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
• In a trending interview, Galadima raised an alarm, alleging that President Tinubu’s government planned to appoint a retired Court of Appeal judge with a questionable character as INEC chairman
• Galadima explained what would happen in Nigeria if Tinubu went ahead to appoint “somebody that has a record of notoriety” as INEC chairman ahead of the 2027 elections

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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Amid the debate about Professor Mahmood Yakubu's replacement, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has warned that an alleged move by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to appoint a controversial retired judge as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could plunged the nation into crisis.

Galadima: Person with notoriety can’t be INEC chair

Galadima alleged that Tinubu's government was considering installing a retired Court of Appeal judge with a questionable reputation to head the electoral body.

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Speaking in an interview on the Prime Time programme on ARISE News TV, on Monday, September 15, Galadima said:

“Come November, there are rumours all over the place that this government is nominating a just retired court of appeals judge who is known for notoriety to be the chairman of INEC. I wish it is not true.

“Because if that man becomes the chairman of INEC, be rest assured that this government is inviting a civil war in this country,” he said.

Speaking further, the NNPP stalwart accused Tinubu's administration of having no regard for the rule of law.

“And we cannot be in a country where the government does not respect the law,” he added.

In a twist, Galadima, also criticised Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC.

He alleged that the electoral body has already been compromised in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Galadima, INEC cannot dictate certain electioneering procedures to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly early campaign.

“The INEC chairman has already rigged the election for APC.

“INEC has an inability to call political players to order.

“I painfully realised they are not in a position to call them to order because those who pay the piper dictate the tune, ” Galadima added.

Galadima, therefore, argued that such developments pose a direct threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system and warned of dire consequences if the alleged plan goes forward.

“We cannot allow somebody that has a record of notoriety to be imposed on us as INEC chairman,” he declared.

Watch Buba Galadima's interview below;

2027 election: Full list of INEC chairmen

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, would step down in either October or November 2025 after serving the maximum two terms, totalling 10 years.

Yakubu’s departure and likely successor drew attention because, out of the 12 chairmen who had led INEC since its inception, 10 came from the south, while only two came from the north.

Speculation centred on whether President Tinubu might appoint someone from his own region, the southwest, or opt for the northcentral.

Read more about INEC here:

• INEC releases breakdown of online and in-person voters registration
• Tinubu's allies reportedly shopping for INEC chairman Yakubu’s replacement, reason surfaces

INEC announces new job vacancies

In another development, Legit.ng reported that INEC opened applications for ad-hoc staff roles ahead of the Anambra 2025 governorship election, with registration until October 5.

Eligible positions included SPOs, POs, APOs, RAC Managers, and RATECHs, open to corps members, civil servants, students, and INEC staff.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.