Tinubu Accepts INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s Exit

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By Folarin Johnson

President Bola Tinubu has formally accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of his second and final five-year tenure.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed gratitude to Yakubu for what he described as his “dedicated service and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic growth.”

Tinubu Honours Yakubu, to Name Successor After Council of State Meeting

In recognition of his decade-long service, the President conferred on Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Tinubu is expected to announce a substantive successor after Thursday’s Council of State meeting in Abuja, where former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as state governors and other members, will advise him on the nomination process.

The statement, titled “President Tinubu Accepts INEC Chairman’s Departure, Bestows National Honour on Him,” noted that the outgoing chairman has handed over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as acting chairman pending a new appointment.

Yakubu Bows Out After Decade of Electoral Reforms

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu thanked the President and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve, expressing pride in leading the commission through key electoral reforms.

Appointed in November 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu was reappointed in 2020 and oversaw both the 2019 and 2023 general elections, alongside multiple off-cycle polls.

His tenure introduced several innovations, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) — tools designed to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Under his leadership, INEC also expanded the number of polling units nationwide, strengthened collaboration with political parties, civil society groups, international observers, and the media, and introduced inclusive voting measures for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

Yakubu also established the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) — a real-time monitoring platform used to track polling performance using data-driven indicators.

Agbamuche-Mbu Takes Over in Acting Capacity

May Agbamuche-Mbu, a legal practitioner and senior INEC national commissioner, has now assumed office as acting INEC chairman in line with the President’s directive.

She will oversee the commission’s operations until a substantive chairman is appointed and confirmed by the National Assembly.