President Bola Tinubu will name a new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman this week. The appointment follows Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s completion of his second and final tenure.
Tinubu will present his nominee list at Thursday’s Council of State meeting in Abuja. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, state governors, and other members of the Council are expected to advise him on the new appointment.
On Tuesday, Professor Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner. She now serves as acting chairman until the President names a replacement.
To honour Yakubu’s decade of service, Tinubu awarded him the national title of Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a statement titled “President Tinubu Accepts INEC Chairman’s Departure, Bestows National Honour on Him.” He said Tinubu thanked Yakubu for strengthening democracy and ensuring credible elections during his tenure.
In his resignation letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve two terms. Tinubu, in return, praised him for conducting free and fair elections that sustained Nigeria’s democracy.
Yakubu first became the 14th INEC chairman in November 2015. He earned reappointment in 2020 and completed his tenure this year. During his leadership, he supervised the 2019 and 2023 general elections and several off-cycle polls.
Under Yakubu, INEC launched the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). These tools improved voter verification and gave citizens real-time access to polling unit results.
BVAS debuted during the 2021 Anambra election and became fully operational nationwide in 2023. Yakubu also introduced continuous voter registration, expanded polling units, and improved accessibility for voters with disabilities.
Despite technical challenges during the 2023 general elections, Yakubu defended INEC’s independence and transparency. He built stronger collaboration with political parties, civil society groups, and election observers to improve accountability.
