By David Lawani and Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the exit of Prof Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the expiration of his second term in office, and has approved the appointment of the most senior National Commissioner, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, as Acting Chairman.
Yakubu, who formally handed over to Agbamuche-Mbu on Tuesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, bowed out after nearly a decade of steering Nigeria’s electoral body through far-reaching reforms, controversies, and institutional consolidation.
Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer and long-serving National Commissioner, thus becomes the first woman in Nigeria’s history to lead INEC, even if in an acting capacity, at a defining moment when the Commission prepares for off-season governorship elections and faces lingering post-election legal battles.
Speculations about Yakubu proceeding on “terminal leave” had dominated the public space in recent days, but the Presidency’s confirmation ended the uncertainty. Investigations showed that such leave applies only to career civil servants, not political appointees whose tenure is constitutionally fixed.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised Yakubu’s stewardship and reforms, noting that his leadership strengthened the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“President Tinubu has accepted Prof Mahmoud Yakubu’s departure following the expiration of his second term,” the statement said.
“In recognition of his dedicated service to the nation, the President has bestowed on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).”
Tinubu’s letter, dated October 3, 2025, directed Yakubu to hand over immediately to Agbamuche-Mbu, who will oversee the Commission’s affairs pending the appointment of a substantive successor.
Appointed in November 2015 and reappointed in 2020, Yakubu’s tenure saw the introduction of innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, and the complete digitisation of candidate nominations and observer accreditation.
*Why I bowed out- Yakubu
Explaining his early exit, Yakubu said he decided to step aside to enable a smooth leadership transition and allow his successor to settle into office ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution. In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior National Commissioners, Ms May Agbamuche-Mbu,” he said.
“This will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new chairman and enable the person to quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections in Africa’s most complex electoral environment.”
Yakubu expressed appreciation to INEC staff, political parties, the media, and Nigerians for their support and constructive criticisms, which he said strengthened the Commission.
He said INEC had made notable progress through technology-driven reforms that improved voter registration, result transmission, and logistics management.
Yakubu disclosed that the Commission was already preparing for the Anambra governorship election in November 2025, as well as the FCT Area Council, Ekiti, and Osun elections in 2026, while awaiting the passage of the new Electoral Act.
*Agbamuche-Mbu pledges continuity, credibility
In her brief remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu commended Yakubu for his legacy of reform and pledged to sustain institutional integrity, transparency, and professionalism.
“We acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements made during your tenure,” she said. “I pledge to uphold the integrity of the Commission and work with utmost professionalism, unity, and dedication.”
The event also featured the presentation of two books authored under Yakubu’s watch: “Election Management in Nigeria (2015–2025)” and “Electoral Technology (2015–2025)”, which document the Commission’s decade-long transformation.
