After a decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has stepped aside as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially handing over to National Commissioner, Ms. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve in an acting capacity.
At a brief ceremony held during INEC’s consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu said his decision was rooted in the need for a smooth leadership transition ahead of key upcoming elections.
“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same, as provided by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” Yakubu announced.
“In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior national commissioners. This is to allow the appointing authorities time to name a new Chairman and to ensure a seamless handover in the interest of the Commission and the country.”
While Yakubu’s official tenure still had a few weeks remaining, he said stepping aside early would give his successor the opportunity to quickly settle into the role, especially with the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun off-cycle elections on the horizon — and preparations already underway for the 2027 general elections.
“Conducting elections in Africa’s most populous and logistically complex democracy requires continuity, planning, and resilience,” he added.
Reflecting on his 10-year stewardship, Yakubu highlighted key milestones, from the consolidation of the biometric voters register to the digitization of candidate nomination, voter accreditation, and result collation processes.
“Together with our team, we replaced many of INEC’s manual processes with digital innovations. From training staff virtually to managing elections through our Election Monitoring and Support Center, we made significant strides. But there’s still a lot of ground to cover,” he said.
He also acknowledged the scale of electoral logistics in Nigeria, noting that managing elections requires massive coordination — involving land, air, and sea transportation, and the procurement of millions of materials.
Grateful for the support he received over the years, Yakubu thanked INEC staff, stakeholders, and Nigerians at large.
“Since 2015, I’ve worked with 24 national commissioners and 67 RECs. I deeply appreciate the support of the National Assembly, political parties, civil society, the media, security agencies, and, most importantly, the Nigerian people,” he said.
“Even the harshest criticisms pushed us to do better.”
As a parting gift, Yakubu presented two books chronicling INEC’s evolution during his tenure: Election Management in Nigeria: 2015–2025 and Electoral Technology: 2015–2025.
In her response, Ms. May Agbamuche-Mbu praised Yakubu’s leadership and assured the Commission of her commitment to uphold its integrity.
“We acknowledge the significant contributions made by Prof. Yakubu in advancing Nigeria’s electoral system,” she said.
“As you step down, we pray for continued success in your future endeavours. We are confident history will judge you well.”
Agbamuche-Mbu pledged to work closely with other commissioners, RECs, and stakeholders to build on the foundation laid by her predecessor.
“We will continue the task of strengthening democracy in Nigeria with unity, professionalism, and transparency,” she affirmed.
Yakubu formally signed and handed over his transition documents at the close of the event.
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