In a significant leadership transition at Nigeria’s electoral body, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu has taken over as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the formal handover by outgoing chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The announcement was made during INEC’s consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Tuesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu, who has led the Commission since 2015, is proceeding on a terminal leave, ahead of the official end of his tenure.
Citing Section 306, Subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Yakubu said his early exit was to ensure a seamless transition and give the incoming leadership adequate time to prepare for the complex electoral tasks ahead.
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“In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior national commissioners by date of appointment. Following consultation with other national commissioners, May Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman of the Commission,” Yakubu stated.
The outgoing chairman acknowledged the immense logistical and demographic challenges of managing elections in Nigeria and said stepping aside early would help maintain institutional stability.
Yakubu, who has overseen two general elections during his tenure, thanked a wide range of stakeholders for their support— from civil society and development partners to INEC staff and NYSC members whom he described as “among the most patriotic and knowledgeable election officials I have worked with.”
He also presented two publications chronicling INEC’s work during his tenure:
Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025.
“I will forever cherish the support of successive secretaries and staff of the Commission nationwide,” he added. “Above all, I thank Nigerians for their comments and criticisms, which encouraged rather than discouraged us to persevere.”
In his closing remarks, Yakubu prayed for the continued growth of Nigerian democracy before formally signing and presenting his handover notes to Agbamuche-Mbu.
This marks the end of a decade-long leadership era at INEC, with May Agbamuche-Mbu now steering the Commission through its next critical phase—pending the appointment of a new substantive chairman by the President.
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