President Bola Tinubu has accepted Prof Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission following the expiration of his second term in office.
Tinubu conveyed the acceptance in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Tuesday in Abuja.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years.
The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.
Tinubu thanked Prof Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.
In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
Tinubu also directed that Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.
In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.
Recall that Yakubu officially bowed out on Tuesday during INEC’s third quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in Abuja, after ten years of efforts at transforming Nigeria’s electoral system.
He handed over to National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who assumes office as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive head.
The meeting was originally convened to assess the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, and preparations for upcoming elections, but the session became an emotional farewell for Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure redefined election management in the country.
Reflecting on his stewardship, Yakubu expressed gratitude to Nigerians, INEC staff, and stakeholders for their support and constructive criticism.
“Having been privileged to serve for ten years, I have, in line with the Constitution, decided to hand over to one of our most senior National Commissioners,” he said.
He noted that the decision would allow for a smooth leadership transition before the appointment of a new chairman.
Yakubu noted INEC’s strides under his watch, including the consolidation of the biometric voter register, the expansion of digital processes, and enhanced transparency through platforms such as the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal.
He credited the successes to collaboration with civil society, security agencies, and development partners despite daunting security and logistical challenges.
He also announced the release of two publications, Election Management in Nigeria 2015-2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025, chronicling the Commission’s reforms and use of technology over the past decade.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu commended her predecessor’s vision and dedication, pledging to sustain the standards set under his leadership.
“We will uphold the integrity of the Commission and continue to build on the foundations laid during Professor Yakubu’s tenure,” she assured.
Under her interim leadership, INEC will maintain its focus on the ongoing voter registration exercise, which has recorded over six million online pre-registrations and 1.2 million completed in-person registrations, as well as preparations for off-cycle elections in Anambra, the FCT, Ekiti, and Osun States.
The ceremony ended with glowing tributes from colleagues, including Prof. Sam Egwu and Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, marking the close of an era that reshaped Nigeria’s electoral landscape and ushering in a new chapter for the Commission.
