Yakubu steps down as INEC Chair, hands over to Agbamuche-Mbu
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday announced his resignation as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after almost a decade of steering the electoral body.
Yakubu officially stepped down during the Commission’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja, stating that the move would allow a smooth transition, as INEC prepares for a busy electoral calendar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior Commissioner of the electoral body, has by consensus of the National Commissioners, taken over in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a new head for the Commission.
Yakubu highlighted INEC’s digital innovations — the biometric voter registration, electronic result transmission, online nomination and monitoring systems, amongst others, as part of his achievements in his 10-year service as INEC boss.
“Together, we built a foundation for credible elections in Africa’s largest democracy,” he added, while appreciating support from political parties, security agencies, the media, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the National Peace Committee, and civil society.
He thereafter unveiled two publications which center on his tenure as Chairman of the Commission: “Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025” and “Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025,” which can be accessed via the Commission’s website.
Yakubu is stepping down in the wake of imminent electoral outings in the country, including the Anambra governorship election holding in November, the FCT Area Council election in February 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial polls also in 2026, in addition to preparations for the 2027 general election in the country.
