Yakubu Steps Aside, May Agbamuche-Mbu Assumes Office as Acting INEC Chairman

By Iyojo Ameh

Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially stepped aside as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allowing National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu to take over as Acting Chairman.

The handover took place on Tuesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). The transition follows Professor Yakubu’s decision to proceed on terminal leave after completing his two-term tenure as INEC boss.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, one of INEC’s longest-serving National Commissioners, now assumes leadership of the Commission in an acting capacity. She currently chairs the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSCCC). A seasoned lawyer with over 30 years of professional experience, she holds a Master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law (LL.M) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.

Photos released by INEC showed Professor Yakubu handing over official documents to Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, symbolizing a smooth leadership transition.

Appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015 and reappointed in 2020, Yakubu leaves behind a record of significant electoral reforms. Under his leadership, INEC introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), both of which enhanced transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The handover comes at a crucial time as INEC continues voter registration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and prepares for upcoming off-cycle elections in several states.

Meanwhile, reliable sources reveal that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to announce the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the next substantive INEC Chairman in the coming days, with confirmation anticipated at a Council of State meeting on Thursday.

Until then, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu will oversee the Commission’s activities, ensuring operational continuity and adherence to its electoral timetable.

Her assumption of office reflects INEC’s internal stability and commitment to a seamless leadership transition without disrupting ongoing electoral processes.

Further details on the handover and the anticipated appointment of a new INEC Chairman are expected in the coming days.