The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has officially handed over the leadership of the commission to May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting National Chairman.
Yakubu made the announcement on Tuesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Agbamuche-Mbu, who represents Delta State on the commission, is currently the most senior National Commissioner. She will oversee the affairs of the electoral body pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by President Bola Tinubu.
In his brief remarks, Yakubu expressed appreciation to members of the commission for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure. He urged them to extend the same commitment and professionalism to his successor.
A lawyer by profession, Agbamuche-Mbu joined INEC as a National Commissioner in 2016 and was reappointed in 2021 for a second term. She has played significant roles in election monitoring, legal compliance, and stakeholder engagement, contributing to key electoral reforms.
Her assumption of the acting chairmanship follows standard administrative procedure, which designates the most senior commissioner to take over leadership during a transition period.
Yakubu’s exit marks the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, a period that witnessed some of Nigeria’s most intense electoral contests. Appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2020, he supervised the 2019 and 2023 general elections, as well as several off-cycle governorship and legislative polls.
Under his leadership, INEC introduced critical innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal, both aimed at improving transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
The commission is currently preparing for the upcoming off-cycle election in Anambra State, alongside ongoing reviews of electoral guidelines and logistics plans, tasks Agbamuche-Mbu is expected to steer in her acting capacity.
Yakubu’s departure comes amid renewed calls for electoral reforms and constitutional amendments to further strengthen INEC’s independence and operational efficiency.
The handover ceremony was attended by INEC national commissioners, directors, and senior staff, signaling the beginning of a new administrative phase for Nigeria’s election management body.
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