Tinubu Accepts Yakubu’s Exit as INEC Chairman, Confers National Honour as Search for Successor Begins

President Bola Tinubu has officially accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the completion of his second and final term in office.

A statement released on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that Tinubu expressed appreciation to Yakubu for his decade-long service and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. In recognition of his achievements, the President conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Pending the appointment of a substantive chairman, Yakubu has handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, who will serve as Acting INEC Chairman. The President is expected to present the list of nominees for the position during Thursday’s Council of State meeting in Abuja, where former Presidents, state governors, and other senior officials will offer advisory input on the selection.

Yakubu, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the privilege of leading INEC for two terms. Appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2020, Yakubu oversaw the 2019 and 2023 general elections and spearheaded key electoral innovations, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). His tenure also expanded polling access nationwide and enhanced voter registration and inclusivity for vulnerable groups.

Despite his reforms, Yakubu’s leadership faced criticism over technical challenges and delays during the 2023 elections. Nonetheless, he was widely credited for maintaining INEC’s institutional independence amid political pressure.

Meanwhile, legal experts have weighed in on the upcoming appointment of Yakubu’s successor. Senior lawyers including Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, and Wale Balogun, SAN, urged transparency in the process but agreed that the Constitution empowers the President to make the appointment, subject to Senate confirmation. They emphasised that credible elections depend less on who heads INEC and more on the conduct of political actors and the integrity of the system.

Yakubu’s exit marks the end of an era defined by technological reforms and electoral modernization. His successor, expected to be announced after Thursday’s Council of State meeting, will inherit both the progress and the challenges of Nigeria’s evolving electoral process.