A National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), May Agbamuche-Mbu, has assumed office as the acting chairman of the Commission following the handover of duties by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who is proceeding on terminal leave.
The transition was announced on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Yakubu said his decision to step aside was in line with Section 306 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“In recognition of the significant challenges ahead, and having had the honour of serving the Commission for the past 10 years, with only a few weeks remaining in my tenure, I have made a decision,” he said.
“In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior National Commissioners by date of appointment. Following consultation with other National Commissioners, May Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.”
Yakubu expressed confidence that the transition would allow the appointing authorities enough time to name a new chairman while ensuring continuity in managing Nigeria’s complex electoral process.
Reflecting on his decade-long stewardship, Yakubu thanked his colleagues, stakeholders, civil society groups, and development partners for their support. He also appreciated members of the National Youth Service Corps, describing them as “among the most educated, patriotic, and knowledgeable election officials I have worked with.”
“As part of his farewell, Yakubu presented two publications documenting the Commission’s achievements: Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to upcoming elections, including the Anambra governorship poll next month, the FCT Area Council election in February 2026, the Ekiti governorship election in June 2026, and the Osun governorship election in August 2026.
Yakubu also disclosed that preparations for the 2027 general elections were already underway, alongside plans to further clean up the voters’ register, review polling unit allocations, and improve the management of party primaries.
“Over the years, we have achieved a lot by introducing several innovations that replaced many manual processes with digital systems,” he said.
Born in May 1962, Yakubu previously served as Executive Secretary of the Education Trust Fund before being appointed INEC Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2015. He assumed office on November 9, 2015, succeeding Professor Attahiru Jega.
In 2020, he was reappointed for a second five-year term — the first such reappointment in Nigeria’s democratic history.
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