The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has changed hands as Professor Mahmood Yakubu officially handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, who has been appointed Acting National Chairman of the commission.
Agbamuche-Mbu, the longest-serving National Commissioner at INEC, assumed her new role on Tuesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
She currently chairs INEC’s Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSCCC), a key portfolio responsible for overseeing legal compliance and candidate screening.
Yakubu, whose second and final five-year term is due to expire in November 2025, stated that the handover aligns with constitutional provisions guiding tenure limits for public officeholders. He urged commissioners, directors, and all INEC staff to extend their full cooperation and support to Agbamuche-Mbu as she leads the commission pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
In his farewell address, Yakubu expressed gratitude to INEC staff, Resident Electoral Commissioners, and other stakeholders for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s democratic process during his tenure. He described his time at the commission as both “challenging and rewarding,” noting that the conduct of elections in Nigeria had seen steady improvements in transparency, technology adoption, and voter engagement.
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