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| …Professor Yakubu handing over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu |
After leading Nigeria’s electoral commission through a decade of transformative reforms and digital advancements, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially resigned as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Yakubu, who had been in charge since 2015, made the announcement on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, during INEC’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. He described the meeting as his “last as chairman.”
Invoking Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, Yakubu emphasized that his resignation was aimed at ensuring a smooth leadership transition as INEC prepares for an intense electoral calendar ahead.
Following a unanimous decision by the National Commissioners, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior commissioner, was appointed as Acting Chairman until a permanent replacement is named.
In his farewell remarks, Yakubu reflected on his 10-year stewardship, pointing to INEC’s digital transformation, from biometric voter registration and electronic result transmission to online nomination and monitoring systems.
“Together, we built a foundation for credible elections in Africa’s largest democracy,” he declared.
According to a report of Vanguard Newspapers, he acknowledged support from political parties, the National Peace Committee, civil society, security agencies, the media, and especially corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), whom he described as “the most patriotic election officials.”
The outgoing chairman also unveiled two publications capturing his tenure: “Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025” and “Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025,” now available on INEC’s website.
Yakubu leaves with major elections looming — including next month’s Anambra governorship poll, the FCT Area Council vote in February 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship contests later that year. Preparations for the 2027 general elections, he revealed, have already begun.
Ending on a lighter note, Yakubu invited commissioners for a farewell photograph before officially handing over to Agbamuche-Mbu.
His exit marks the close of what many describe as a transformative era for Nigeria’s electoral system.
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