The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has officially bowed out after completing his second and final term as head of Nigeria’s electoral body.
Appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2020, Prof. Yakubu is the first INEC Chairman to serve two full terms since the Commission’s establishment. During his tenure, Nigeria witnessed notable electoral reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), both designed to improve transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Yakubu expressed appreciation to Nigerians, electoral stakeholders, and INEC staff for their support throughout his tenure. He described his time in office as one of “immense learning, service, and resilience.”
“I am leaving with a deep sense of fulfilment, knowing that we have made substantial progress in strengthening the electoral process in Nigeria,” he said.
In the interim, National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu has assumed duties as Acting Chairman of INEC, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by President Bola Tinubu.