Tinubu Confirms Yakubu’s Exit as INEC Chairman, Confers National Honour on Him

…Agbamuche-Mbu to Take Over in Acting Capacity

By Abiola Adigun
Albarka 89.9 FM

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.
Yakubu, who served as the 14th chairman of the commission, was first appointed in November 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020 for another five-year term, which officially lapsed this month.
A statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Monday, announced that President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Professor Yakubu for his decade-long stewardship at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body and his contributions to strengthening the nation’s democracy.
“President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure,” the statement read.
In recognition of his service, President Tinubu conferred on Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The President also directed Professor Yakubu to hand over to the most senior National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will oversee the affairs of the commission in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation for nearly a decade, describing his tenure as “a period of transformation, innovation, and resilience” for Nigeria’s electoral process.
“It has been a great honour to serve our country at such a critical time in its democratic journey. I thank the President, members of the National Assembly, and Nigerians for their support,” Yakubu stated.
Yakubu’s tenure witnessed significant milestones in electoral reform, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal — both aimed at improving transparency and reducing electoral malpractices.
Political observers have noted that while Yakubu’s leadership drew praise for expanding voter access and modernising the commission’s operations, it also faced criticism over the management of the 2023 general elections, which opposition parties described as flawed.
Reacting to the development, civic organisations such as the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) commended Yakubu’s role in institutionalising electoral technology but urged the government to ensure a credible and transparent process in selecting his successor.
“Professor Yakubu’s exit marks the end of a critical phase for INEC. The next appointment must reflect competence, integrity, and independence,” said CDD’s Director, Idayat Hassan.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who assumes office in acting capacity, is a lawyer and former publisher who has served as a National Commissioner representing Delta, Edo, and Cross River States since 2016.
As the process begins for a new INEC chairman, attention now turns to how the Tinubu administration will balance public expectations for electoral credibility with political realities in appointing a successor to lead Nigeria’s electoral umpire into its next phase of democratic evolution.