- Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially stepped aside as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
- Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner, has taken over the reins as Acting Chairman of the electoral body.
The formal handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
The transition follows Professor Yakubu’s decision to proceed on terminal leave after completing his two-term tenure as head of the Commission.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, one of INEC’s longest-serving National Commissioners, currently chairs the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSCCC).
A lawyer with over three decades of experience, she holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.
In a brief ceremony, Professor Yakubu formally handed over documents to Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, signifying the official transfer of leadership.
INEC, in a statement, said the handover was part of its tradition of ensuring administrative continuity and institutional stability.
Professor Yakubu, who was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015 and reappointed for a second term in 2020, is the longest-serving INEC Chairman since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
His tenure witnessed landmark electoral innovations, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal — two reforms widely credited with improving transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Critics observe however, that while the huge investment in technology aided the voting process, the outcome of elections remained quite controversial due to the failure of the electoral body to deploy for the outcome.
The smooth transition comes as the Commission continues with ongoing voter registration exercises in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and prepares for off-cycle governorship elections in key states.
Meanwhile, credible reports suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to nominate Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the substantive INEC Chairman.
The nomination, according to sources, may be ratified at a scheduled Council of State meeting on Thursday.
Until then, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu will oversee the affairs of the Commission in an acting capacity, ensuring that ongoing electoral operations remain uninterrupted.
Her appointment is seen as a continuation of INEC’s commitment to professionalism, gender inclusion, and effective succession planning.
Further details about the handover and the anticipated presidential nomination are expected in the coming days.
