From the early days of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) to the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the electoral body has been a key pillar of the nation’s political structure.
Every Chairman who has led this commission has carried the heavy burden of national stability.
Their decisions have shaped the outcome of elections, often with far-reaching consequences for the country.
This article examines the chain of Chairmen who have steered Nigeria’s electoral ship since the First Republic.
1. Eyo Esua
Tenure: 1964–1966
Body: Federal Electoral Commission (FEC)
Eyo Esua was an experienced teacher and trade unionist who became the Chairman of the FEC during the First Republic. He was known for his dedication to duty and his upright character. His commission’s brief tenure was, however, overshadowed by the intense political climate of the time.
Esua’s commission supervised the controversial December 1964 general election. The election was deeply mired in crisis, with two members of the commission even resigning over disagreements with the chairman. The widespread fraud and violence that marked the polls were a major source of political tension.
His commission also conducted the 1965 Western Region election, which was also disputed and characterized by widespread disorder. Esua’s acknowledgment that his organization could not guarantee a free and fair poll reflected the severe challenges of the period. The political instability that followed his tenure led directly to Nigeria’s first military coup in January 1966.
2. Michael Ani
Tenure: 1976–1979
Body: Federal Electoral Commission (FEC)
Chief Michael Ani was a retired civil servant who was appointed to lead the FEC during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. His key task was to manage the process of returning Nigeria to civil rule after many years of military government.
Ani’s commission successfully conducted the 1979 general elections. These elections brought in Nigeria’s Second Republic, with Alhaji Shehu Shagari emerging as the executive president. The elections marked a vital, peaceful transition from military to civilian government.
Despite the successful transition, the presidential election result was highly disputed due to Ani’s interpretation of the “two-thirds of 19 states” electoral decree. This legal ambiguity created a major political crisis at the time, but the military government upheld the result, and the Second Republic began.
3. Justice Victor Whiskey
Tenure: 1980–1983
Body: Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO)
Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey headed the newly renamed Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). His tenure fell entirely within the Second Republic, which gave him a unique position among the chairmen of the era.
FEDECO, under Justice Ovie-Whiskey, conducted the 1983 general elections. These elections were highly competitive and saw President Shehu Shagari re-elected. The commission faced immense pressure from all political parties.
However, the 1983 elections are historically known for widespread electoral fraud and malpractice. The period saw competitive rigging reach its peak, with both the ruling party and opposition parties using various means to manipulate the polls. The ensuing political chaos and violence led to the military overthrow of the Shagari administration on December 31, 1983.
4. Prof Eme Awa
Tenure: 1987–1989
Body: National Electoral Commission (NEC)
Professor Eme Awa, a respected Professor of Political Science, was appointed by General Ibrahim Babangida to head the National Electoral Commission (NEC). His role was to start the military government’s long political transition programme.
Awa’s commission conducted the 1987 Local Government election. This election, run on a zero-party basis, was, unfortunately, marred by numerous issues. These problems included a confusing voters’ register and irregularities at polling stations.
He resigned in 1989 due to disagreements with the military regime over the commission’s autonomy. He was unwilling to compromise on core principles of independence. Awa’s principled exit is often cited as a demonstration of his integrity and commitment to a free electoral process.
5. Prof Humphrey Nwosu
Tenure: 1989–1993
Body: National Electoral Commission (NEC)
Professor Humphrey Nwosu succeeded his mentor, Prof. Eme Awa. He became the NEC Chairman during a highly sensitive period of the political transition program under the military regime.
Nwosu’s commission is famous for conducting the June 12, 1993, presidential election. This election is still widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. His team introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot System, which minimized rigging.
Despite its success, the result of the election, which Chief Moshood Abiola was widely believed to have won, was annulled by the military government. This annulment triggered a major political crisis that engulfed the nation for years. Nwosu’s name remains deeply tied to this critical, yet tragic, moment in Nigeria’s history.
6. Prof Okon Uya
Tenure: 1993
Body: National Electoral Commission (NEC)
Professor Okon Uya, a professor of history and a diplomat, took over the NEC after the annulment of the June 12 election. His tenure was one of the shortest in the commission’s history.
Uya was tasked with conducting a new presidential election to resolve the crisis. He was asked to have the new poll held by March 1994, with new candidates from the two existing political parties.
However, the political confusion that followed the annulment crisis prevented Uya from carrying out the election. His commission was dismissed later that year when General Sani Abacha seized power in a military coup, effectively ending the transition program.
7. Sumner Dagogo-Jack
Tenure: 1994–1998
Body: National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON)
Sumner Dagogo-Jack was appointed to head the newly established NECON by the military regime of General Sani Abacha. His commission’s primary role was to manage Abacha’s own political transition program.
NECON conducted elections for the Local Government Councils and the National Assembly during this period. However, the commission’s actions were widely seen as controlled by the Abacha regime. NECON was often criticized for lacking impartiality.
The commission registered only five political associations, which many observers felt were all favorable to Abacha’s planned self-succession. Dagogo-Jack’s tenure ended suddenly with Abacha’s death in June 1998, leading to a completely fresh start for the electoral process.
8. Justice Ephraim Akpata
Tenure: 1998–2000
Body: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Justice Ephraim Akpata was a retired Supreme Court Justice. He became the first chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), established by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime to usher in the Fourth Republic.
Akpata’s commission successfully conducted the 1998/1999 elections. These polls, which included Local Government, Governorship, National Assembly, and Presidential elections, successfully transferred power from the military to a civilian government. This paved the way for the current democratic era.
His tenure faced challenges, particularly concerning the registration of political parties. Akpata mandated that only parties with broad national support could compete. While the 1999 elections were largely peaceful, some irregularities were noted, which is a common challenge in Nigerian elections.
9. Dr Abel Guobadia
Tenure: 2000–2005
Body: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Dr. Abel Guobadia was an educator and diplomat. He was appointed to lead INEC after Justice Akpata’s death. His tenure was historic because he was the first Chairman of the electoral body since 1960 to complete his full term in office.
Guobadia’s commission supervised the 2003 general elections. These elections were the first conducted by a civilian government since the Second Republic. He registered three new political parties, bringing the total number of parties to six for the elections.
However, the 2003 elections were highly controversial. Many opposition figures and election monitors criticized the process, alleging widespread fraud and manipulation. Despite the controversies, the peaceful handover of power showed the growing stability of the democratic system.
10. Prof Maurice Iwu
Tenure: 2005–2010
Body: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Professor Maurice Iwu, a pharmacognosist, was appointed as the INEC Chairman in 2005. His tenure was one of the most contentious in the history of the commission.
Iwu’s commission oversaw the 2007 general elections. These elections were heavily criticized both within Nigeria and by international observers. The process was marred by technical flaws, massive variations in voter lists, and widespread reports of irregularities.
Following the backlash, the election was officially described by the new President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as being deeply flawed. Iwu’s tenure ended shortly after this event, and he remains a highly controversial figure in Nigeria’s electoral history.
11. Prof Attahiru Jega
Tenure: 2010–2015
Body: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Professor Attahiru Jega, a respected Political Science Professor and former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was appointed to restore the credibility of the electoral body.
Jega’s commission successfully conducted the 2011 and 2015 general elections. He introduced major reforms, including the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the Card Reader technology to improve voter accreditation and reduce fraud.
The 2015 election was particularly acclaimed for achieving the first peaceful transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party in Nigeria’s history. Jega is widely credited for the transparency and integrity he brought back to the electoral process.
12. Prof Mahmood Yakubu
Tenure: 2015–Till Date
Body: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Professor Mahmood Yakubu succeeded Prof. Jega. He is a Professor of History and was the first person to be reappointed for a second term as INEC Chairman, which began in 2020.
Yakubu’s tenure has overseen the 2019 and 2023 general elections. His commission introduced new technologies, including the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), which allows for the public viewing of polling unit results almost immediately.
His era has focused on institutionalizing electoral reforms, but both the 2019 and 2023 elections faced significant political and logistical challenges, leading to major disputes and legal battles over the results. Despite the controversies, the commission continues to manage Nigeria’s complex elections.
