Nigeria’s long-serving electoral chief, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has formally handed over leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as acting chairman as he proceeds on terminal leave.
The transition was announced at a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Tuesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu, who first assumed office in November 2015 and became the first chairman to be reappointed for a second term in Nigeria’s democratic history, said his decision was in line with Section 306 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“In recognition of the significant challenges ahead, and having had the honour of serving the Commission for the past ten years, I have made a decision,” he said. “In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior national commissioners by date of appointment. Following consultations with my colleagues, May Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.”
Yakubu explained that the move would give the appointing authorities sufficient time to select a new chair while ensuring continuity in the commission’s operations.
A Decade of Electoral Reform
Reflecting on his tenure, Yakubu expressed gratitude to colleagues, civil society, development partners, and Nigerians for their support — including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members he called “among the most educated, patriotic and knowledgeable election officials I have worked with.”
He acknowledged both praise and criticism from the public, saying they had “encouraged rather than discouraged” his team to persevere.
To mark his departure, Yakubu presented two publications documenting INEC’s work between 2015 and 2025 — Election Management in Nigeria and Innovations in Electoral Technology — encapsulating the commission’s evolution over the past decade.
“All that remains at this point,” he said, “is for me to pray that God will continue to bless our country and our democracy.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
Before signing his handover notes to Agbamuche-Mbu, the outgoing chairman outlined preparations for several upcoming polls, including the Anambra governorship election next month, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections in February 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship contests in mid-2026.
He confirmed that INEC had already begun planning for the 2027 general elections, pending the passage of a new Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly.
Yakubu also highlighted ongoing challenges — from insecurity and flooding to the logistics of voting by internally displaced persons — stressing the need for continuous innovation in election management.
“Over the years, we have consolidated the biometric register of voters and replaced many of our manual processes with digital platforms,” he said, citing advances in electoral technology, such as virtual training, election facility mapping, and digital monitoring tools through INEC’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre.
“Indeed, we have made tremendous progress,” Yakubu noted, “but a lot more needs to be done.”
The New Acting Chair
May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer and former editor, has served as one of INEC’s National Commissioners since 2016. As acting chair, she will oversee the commission’s ongoing preparations for the 2027 polls and key off-cycle elections — a period expected to test both administrative continuity and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Her appointment, while temporary, marks a pivotal moment for the commission as it transitions from a decade of Yakubu’s leadership — one defined by technological reform, institutional resilience, and controversy — into a new phase of electoral stewardship.
