Abuja — Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has resigned as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying his early exit is intended to “pave the way” for a smooth transition ahead of a busy election calendar, including the Anambra governorship poll and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
At a brief handover during INEC’s regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu transferred authority to National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman “pending the appointment of a substantive chairman,” he said. Yakubu cited Section 36 (1)–(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the basis for his decision.
“I hope this will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new chairman,” Yakubu told commissioners and RECs, adding that an early transition would help the incoming chief “quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities in Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex environment.”
Yakubu, who has led INEC since 2015 and is in the final weeks of his tenure, used the occasion to reflect on a decade of reforms he said strengthened election administration. He listed consolidation of the biometric voters’ register, digitisation of previously manual workflows—such as candidate nominations, accreditation of observers and media, and result management—and the deployment of technologies for logistics, staff training, and real-time election monitoring.
“Together, we innovated and managed the commission’s enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down,” he said, thanking 24 national commissioners, 67 RECs, successive secretaries and staff, as well as the National Assembly, political parties, civil society, security agencies, the National Peace Committee, NYSC, development partners and the media. “Above all, I thank Nigerians for their comments as well as criticisms which encouraged rather than discouraged us to persevere.”
He acknowledged that “a lot more still needs to be done,” flagging priorities that include further cleaning of the voters’ register, review of polling unit locations and voter allotments, tighter oversight of party primaries, and the “monumental” logistics of procuring and moving materials by road, air and sea. He noted INEC has begun early planning for 2027 while awaiting a new Electoral Act now before the National Assembly, which could trigger updates to regulations, guidelines and manuals.
In her remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu praised Yakubu’s “significant contributions,” pledging to uphold the commission’s integrity and work “with utmost professionalism, dedication and unity” alongside commissioners, RECs and staff. She promised close collaboration with stakeholders “to ensure the success and growth of the commission,” adding: “We are confident that history will judge you very well.”
