President Bola Tinubu has accepted Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as INEC chairman after his second term expired, appointing May Agbamuche-Mbu as acting head and conferring a national honour on Yakubu.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 7, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, shortly after Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, who will now serve as acting chairman of the electoral body.
According to the presidency, President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Yakubu for his dedicated service and his role in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the conduct of free and fair elections during his two-term tenure.
Tinubu Confers National Honour on Yakubu
In recognition of his contributions to the nation’s democratic process, President Tinubu conferred on Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Yakubu, who served as the 14th chairman of INEC, was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015 for a five-year term and was reappointed in 2020 for a second term.
The presidency explained that Tinubu directed Yakubu to hand over leadership of the commission to Agbamuche-Mbu, who will oversee INEC’s operations until a substantive chairman is appointed.
Yakubu, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, had written to the president, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve Nigeria as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025.
Debate Over Appointment of New INEC Chairman
Yakubu’s exit has reignited public debate over the process of appointing a new INEC chairman. Political observers argue that the appointment should not rest solely with the president, especially as Tinubu is expected to contest in the 2027 general election.
Omotayo Yusuf, a political analyst, described the concerns as valid, noting that the independence of the electoral body could be compromised if the appointment process remains under the exclusive control of the presidency.
Transition and Next Steps
With May Agbamuche-Mbu now at the helm in an acting capacity, attention has shifted to the selection process for Yakubu’s successor. The presidency has not yet announced a timeline for the appointment, but political stakeholders and civil society groups are expected to play a key role in advocating for transparency and neutrality in the process.
Yakubu’s decade-long tenure was marked by significant electoral reforms, including the introduction of technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which were designed to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s elections.
As the nation prepares for the next electoral cycle, the leadership transition at INEC is expected to shape the future of Nigeria’s democratic process and influence the credibility of the 2027 general elections.