Yakubu Hands Over to Agbamuche as Acting INEC Chairman.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered a new chapter in its leadership as Professor Mahmood Yakubu formally handed over the reins to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as the Acting National Chairman of the electoral body.
Professor Yakubu, who has completed his two-term, ten-year tenure, made the official announcement during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Agbamuche, currently the oldest serving National Commissioner in the Commission, will oversee INEC’s activities in an acting capacity until a substantive chairman is appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman marks a significant era in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. He was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, just six months after Buhari assumed office.
During his time in office, Yakubu supervised multiple general and off-cycle elections, including the 2019 and 2023 general elections, as well as numerous governorship and legislative polls across the country. His reappointment in 2020 by President Buhari made him the first person in Nigeria’s history to serve two consecutive terms as INEC Chairman.
Yakubu succeeded Professor Attahiru Jega under whose leadership INEC conducted the 2015 elections. Reflecting on his tenure, Yakubu described his years in office as challenging yet rewarding, emphasizing that the Commission had made progress in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system through innovation, technology, and institutional reforms.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu is expected to lead INEC in an acting capacity until President Tinubu names a new chairman. Known for her experience and consistency, she has been part of the Commission’s leadership team for several years, contributing to policy formulation, election management, and administrative oversight.
While handing over, Professor Yakubu urged the Commission’s staff, directors, and Resident Electoral Commissioners to extend full cooperation to the Acting Chairman.
“I urge all staff and commissioners to give Mrs. Agbamuche their full support. The work of the Commission must continue seamlessly as we await the appointment of a substantive chairman,” he said.
The transition marks a critical period for INEC as the electoral body continues post-election reviews and preparations for future off-season elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa, among others.
As Yakubu bows out, attention now turns to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to announce his nominee for the position of INEC Chairman in the coming weeks. Nigerians and civil society organizations are already demanding a transparent and credible appointment process.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a letter dated September 27, called on President Tinubu to make the selection and appointment process open and accountable. The organization urged the President to disclose the number and names of candidates being considered, as well as whether the Council of State had been consulted, as required by the Nigerian Constitution.
“The process for selecting Professor Yakubu’s successor cannot and should not be a closed-door affair. Transparency will strengthen public confidence and uphold the integrity of INEC,” SERAP stated in a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The group also urged the President to review the appointment of certain Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) alleged to have partisan affiliations and replace them with nonpartisan individuals.
In a similar vein, Yiaga Africa, a prominent election monitoring group, has called for the appointment of an individual with impeccable integrity, independence, and courage to head the electoral body.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy needs a nonpartisan and fearless INEC Ch
airman who will uphold the rule of law and resist political pressure.
“The next INEC Chairman must be someone who has no political baggage, someone with an unblemished record, and who is ready to do the right thing irrespective of political interests,” Itodo said.
He added that although INEC has implemented commendable reforms over the years, incidents of electoral fraud and irregularities continue to undermine the credibility of elections, stressing the need for more decisive leadership and accountability.
As INEC transitions to new leadership, observers believe the coming months will be pivotal for the Commission. With ongoing debates about electoral reforms and the future of electronic transmission of results, Nigerians are eager to see whether the next chairman will build upon Yakubu’s legacy or chart a new direction for the electoral institution.
For now, the mantle rests on Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, whose stewardship will guide the Commission through this period of change until President Tinubu names the next substantive INEC Chairman.
