President Bola Tinubu is expected to appoint a new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) this week following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu in an acting capacity on Tuesday.
Yakubu stepped aside in line with constitutional provisions, proceeding on terminal leave after almost 10 years at the helm of the electoral body. He explained during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja that his decision was guided by Section 306, subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The former INEC chairman, who was first appointed in 2015 and reappointed for a second term in 2020, noted that his departure was coming only weeks before the formal expiration of his tenure. He said the handover to Agbamuche-Mbu was to allow adequate time for the appointing authorities to select a substantive successor who would quickly settle into preparations for upcoming polls, including the 2027 general elections.
Yakubu, in his farewell remarks, reflected on the challenges and milestones of his leadership. He highlighted that since 2015, he had worked with 24 national commissioners, 67 resident electoral commissioners, and thousands of staff members nationwide. According to him, election management in Nigeria requires enormous dedication, given the demographic size and logistical complexity of the country.
He expressed gratitude to colleagues, stakeholders, civil society organisations, development partners, and Nigerians who contributed to the strengthening of electoral processes during his time in office. Yakubu also commended members of the National Youth Service Corps, describing them as “among the most educated and most patriotic and also most knowledgeable election officials I have worked with.”
As part of his exit, the outgoing chairman unveiled two publications: Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025. He said these documents captured the progress and innovations made under his leadership, including the consolidation of the biometric voters’ register, adoption of digital platforms for election operations, and enhanced systems for party finance monitoring and election monitoring.
Yakubu further reviewed the Commission’s preparations for several elections ahead of 2027. These include the Anambra governorship election scheduled for next month, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election in February 2026, the Ekiti State governorship election in June 2026, and the Osun governorship election in August 2026. He also noted that INEC was awaiting the passage of a new Electoral Act to strengthen the framework for future polls.
“Over the years, we achieved a lot in responding to challenges and introducing many innovations. Indeed, we have made tremendous progress, but a lot more needs to be done,” he remarked.
Yakubu concluded by offering prayers for Nigeria’s democracy and officially signed over his duties to Agbamuche-Mbu. He then took his exit, marking the end of his decade-long tenure as INEC chairman.
