Janet Samuel
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has formally bowed out of office after a decade of service, handing over the reins to Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu as the Acting Chairman.
The handover took place during the Commission’s Third Quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Tuesday.
In his farewell remarks, Prof. Yakubu reflected on his tenure, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced by the Commission, noting that INEC had made significant progress in consolidating the biometric register of voters, introducing digital platforms for election management, and enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
Prof. Yakubu commended his colleagues, staff, and Nigerians for their support and constructive criticisms over the years, expressing gratitude to development partners, civil society organisations, political parties, and security agencies for their contributions to the success of elections in Nigeria.
The outgoing Chairman who disclosed that preparations for the 2027 General Election had commenced, with the Commission awaiting the enactment of a new Electoral Act, emphasised the need for further reforms, review of regulations and guidelines, and the management of party primarie s.
Prof. Yakubu announced the publication of two books documenting the Commission’s activities and technological innovations over the past decade. The books, titled “Election Management in Nigeria, 2015-2025” and “Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015-2025,” have been uploaded to the INEC website for public access.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, one of the most senior National Commissioners, will serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor.
Prof. Yakubu expressed hope that this transition will enable the appointing authorities to appoint a new Chairman and allow for a smooth handover. As Prof. Yakubu exits the stage, the Commission is gearing up for several upcoming elections, including the Anambra State Governorship election, Area Council election in the FCT, and Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. The Commission will continue to oversee the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which has recorded significant progress so far.