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 by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who is proceeding on terminal leave.The official transition took place on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. Professor Yakubu stated that his decision to step aside was in line with Section 306, Subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), noting that he had only a few weeks left in his tenure after serving for nearly a decade.He explained that the handover to Agbamuche-Mbu, one of the most senior national commissioners, would ensure continuity and give the appointing authorities enough time to name a substantive chairman. Yakubu reflected on his years of service since 2015, saying he had worked with 24 national commissioners, 67 resident electoral commissioners, and thousands of staff members dedicated to advancing the country’s electoral process.The outgoing INEC boss expressed appreciation to his colleagues, civil society groups, development partners, and Nigerians for their support during his tenure. He commended the National Youth Service Corps members who participated in election duties, describing them as patriotic and dependable.As part of his exit, Yakubu unveiled two new publications detailing the Commission’s activities during his leadership — Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025. He prayed for continued progress in Nigeria’s democracy before officially handing over to Agbamuche-Mbu.Before leaving office, Yakubu gave an update on the Commission’s readiness for upcoming elections, including the Anambra governorship election next month, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election in February 2026, the Ekiti governorship election in June 2026, and the Osun governorship election in August 2026.He confirmed that preparations for the 2027 general elections were already underway and mentioned ongoing work on a new Electoral Act before the National Assembly. Yakubu also discussed challenges faced by INEC, such as insecurity, flooding, and the need to improve voting access for internally displaced persons.During his tenure, INEC introduced several reforms, including the use of biometric voter registration, digital platforms for election monitoring, and virtual training programs. He noted that while progress had been made in modernizing Nigeria’s electoral system, more work remained to strengthen transparency and efficiency.Professor Yakubu, born in May 1962, previously served as Executive Secretary of the Education Trust Fund before his appointment as INEC Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015. He officially assumed office on November 9, 2015, and was reappointed for a second term in 2020 — becoming the first chairman in Nigeria’s history to serve two consecutive terms.
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