Professor Mahmood Yakubu has stepped down as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after leading Nigeria’s electoral process for a decade.
Yakubu made the announcement on Tuesday during the commission’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, describing the session as his final one as INEC Chairman.
According to him, the decision to resign follows Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution and is aimed at ensuring a smooth leadership transition as the commission prepares for a busy election calendar.
Following his announcement, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC’s most senior National Commissioner, was unanimously selected to serve as Acting Chairman until the President appoints a new substantive head.
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Reflecting on his time in office, Yakubu highlighted the commission’s transformation through key digital and administrative reforms.
“We have built a more transparent, technology-driven electoral system that will continue to evolve,” he said.
Under his leadership, INEC introduced major innovations, including biometric voter registration, electronic result transmission, and online portals for candidate nomination and election monitoring. These steps are seen as milestones in Nigeria’s democratic development.
Yakubu thanked political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their support in ensuring credible elections.
As part of his farewell, he unveiled two publications documenting his years in office: Election Management in Nigeria (2015–2025) and Innovations in Electoral Technology (2015–2025), now available on the INEC website.
His resignation comes at a critical time as the commission prepares for upcoming elections, including the Anambra governorship election next month, FCT Area Council polls in February 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections later that year. Preparations for the 2027 general elections are also underway.
Yakubu ended the session with a farewell photograph alongside national commissioners before formally handing over to Agbamuche-Mbu, marking the end of his decade-long tenure at INEC.