The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has officially stepped down from his position after nearly a decade in office, paving the way for the appointment of a new head of the electoral body.
Yakubu announced on Tuesday during INEC’s consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He handed over to Ms. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a national commissioner, who will now serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.
Explaining his decision, Yakubu said his resignation would allow the incoming chairman to settle into the task of managing Nigeria’s complex electoral system.
“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution. Following consultations with other national commissioners, Ms. May Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman,” Yakubu stated.
He expressed appreciation to INEC staff, commissioners, and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure, noting that the commission achieved significant progress in electoral reforms and technology adoption.
Under his leadership, INEC introduced several digital innovations, including biometric voter registration, online candidate nomination, election monitoring systems, and digital result transmission platforms.
Yakubu also revealed that INEC had begun preparations for the Anambra governorship election in November, as well as the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026, alongside early groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
In her remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu commended Yakubu for his achievements, promising to uphold the commission’s integrity and sustain the standards set under his leadership.
“We acknowledge your significant contributions and hard work in serving the nation. We pledge to maintain professionalism, dedication, and unity in ensuring credible elections,” she said.
The event also featured the presentation of two books authored by Yakubu — Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Electoral Technology 2015–2025 — chronicling his decade-long tenure at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body.
