New INEC Boss Emerges as Mahmood Yakubu Bows Out

A new era has begun at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Professor Mahmood Yakubu officially bowed out of office on Tuesday, handing over the reins of leadership to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman.

The brief handover ceremony took place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, the oldest serving National Commissioner at the commission, will now oversee the day-to-day administration of the electoral body pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by President Bola Tinubu.

In his farewell remarks, Prof. Yakubu expressed gratitude to INEC staff and stakeholders for their cooperation throughout his tenure.

He urged them to extend the same level of commitment and loyalty to his successor in steering the commission through its ongoing reforms and preparations for future elections.

“I have today handed over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. I urge all commissioners and directors to give her the same level of cooperation and dedication that you have shown me,” Yakubu stated.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, a seasoned lawyer and experienced administrator, is expected to lead INEC as it continues preparations for forthcoming elections across the country, including bye-elections and state governorship polls.

Her appointment as acting chair marks a continuation of INEC’s institutional stability, ensuring that the commission’s work proceeds seamlessly during the leadership transition.

Prof. Yakubu, who assumed office as INEC Chairman in 2015 and was reappointed in 2020, is leaving after overseeing two general elections and multiple off-cycle polls, during which he championed electoral innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

As the new acting chair takes charge, attention now turns to the presidency for the nomination of a substantive INEC chairman to guide Nigeria’s electoral process in the years ahead.