The seek for the brand new chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) has commenced as Mahmmod Yakubu, the incumbent, has resigned.
Yakubu, whose tenure expired on December 9, 2025, introduced his departure throughout Tuesday’s assembly of INEC with states’ Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on the fee’s headquarters in Abuja.
Consequently, the longest-serving Nationwide Commissioner within the fee, Might Agbamuche-Mbu, assumed the place of performing chairman of INEC, pending the appointment of a substantive head of the electoral physique.
LEADERSHIP reviews that Yakubu, the longest-serving chairman of the electoral physique, was first appointed on November 9, 2015, for a five-year time period of workplace and was reappointed on November 9, 2020, by the then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
After Senate affirmation, he assumed responsibility for a second five-year time period on December 9, 2020, turning into the primary chairman of the Nationwide Election Administration Physique in Nigeria to serve for 2 consecutive phrases.
Together with his exit, the appointing authority—the presidency—would embark on the seek for his alternative, who would conduct the 2027 normal elections.
There are permutations that, therefore, all of the geopolitical zones have held the workplace besides the South West and North Central, and the brand new INEC chairman is prone to emerge from any of the areas.
Asserting his exit, Yakubu mentioned he made the choice and conveyed it as supplied by Sections 306 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Accordingly, and realizing the enormity of the challenges forward, having been privileged to serve the Fee for ten years with only some extra weeks to serve, I’ve decided and conveyed the identical as supplied by Sec 306 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Within the interim, I’m handing it over to one of the crucial senior Nationwide Commissioners by the date of appointment. Following session with different Nationwide Commissioners, Mrs Might Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in an performing capability pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman of the Fee.
“I hope this may afford the appointing authorities sufficient time to nominate a brand new Chairman. It should additionally allow the brand new Chairman to cool down shortly to conducting elections and electoral actions in Africa’s most demographically and logistically advanced elections,” he mentioned.
Yakubu expressed profound appreciation to the members of the Fee and RECs for his or her wonderful working relations.
“Since 2015, I’ve labored with 24 Nationwide Commissioners and 67 RECs, in addition to with the workers of the Fee. These concerned in elections or vastly educated about election administration perceive what the conduct of elections entails. I’ll perpetually cherish the help of successive Secretaries and workers of the Fee nationwide.
“Collectively, we innovated and managed the Fee’s monumental duties, generally on the verge of breaking down. I additionally loved super help and goodwill from members of the Nationwide Meeting, notably successive Chairmen and Members of the Committees on Electoral Issues.
“So too from political events, the Nationwide Peace Committee underneath our revered former Head of State Common Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, associates from civil society, the media and the labour unions. I additionally respect the event companions’ help. The safety companies have exceptionally secured the surroundings, with out which elections could be unimaginable in some areas.
“I additionally thank my colleagues within the college system who performed important roles within the varied phases of elections. I have to additionally respect the Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with out whose participation, the administration of elections on the polling unit stage could be a nightmare. Younger Nigerians serving within the NYSC are among the many most educated, patriotic, and educated election officers I’ve labored with.
“I additionally thank my household for his or her endurance and help all through the final ten years. Above all, I thank Nigerians for his or her feedback and criticisms, which inspired relatively than discouraged us to persevere.
“Immediately, we’re presenting two books to the general public. The primary, entitled Election Administration in Nigeria, 2015-2025, is a compendium of all of the actions carried out within the final ten years underneath my watch.
“The second e book, Improvements in Electoral Know-how 2015 – 2025, extra particularly dwells on the brand new applied sciences launched by the Fee within the final decade. The 2 publications have already been uploaded to our web site for public entry,” the professor of historical past added.
Giving a quick account of his stewardship, Yakubu mentioned, “Through the years, we now have achieved lots in responding to challenges and introducing many inventions. We now have consolidated the biometric register of voters and changed a lot of our guide processes with digital platforms and functions.
“These embrace the nomination of candidates, submission of polling and collation brokers by political events, accreditation of nationwide and worldwide observers and the media for elections, voter accreditation and outcome administration.
“As well as, with the help of growth companions, we now have launched varied applied sciences to enhance numerous points of election administration corresponding to straightforward location of election services, administration of collation and returning officers, digital coaching of electoral workers, administration of political events funds and audits, in addition to the general monitoring of elections utilizing our Election Monitoring and Assist Centre (EMSC). “We now have made super progress, however way more must be completed.”
The Appearing INEC chairman
Born in Kano State however initially from Delta State, Agbamuche-Mbu attended St. Louis Secondary School, Kano. She obtained her LLB in Regulation from the College of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1984 and was known as to the Nigerian Bar the next yr, in 1985. Agbamuche-Mbu proceeded to the UK, the place she certified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court docket of England and Wales after attending the School of Regulation, London.
She additionally earned an LLM in Business and Company Regulation from Queen Mary and Westfield School, College of London. She accomplished postgraduate programmes in Worldwide Dispute Decision and Worldwide Enterprise Regulation.
A seasoned authorized practitioner with over 30 years of expertise, Agbamuche-Mbu has supplied advisory companies to shoppers throughout each personal and public sectors. Her skilled focus consists of Different Dispute Decision (ADR), and he or she is a revered member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK-Nigeria Department), the place she as soon as served as Secretary.
Agbamuche-Mbu was appointed to the Presidential Initiatives Evaluation Committee (PPAC) between 2010 and 2011, the place she served as the only solicitor answerable for reviewing key federal initiatives throughout Nigeria.
In 2016, she was appointed to a Ministerial Committee that developed the Highway Map for the Stable Minerals Sector, a blueprint that contributed to reform efforts in that business.
She joined INEC as a Nationwide Commissioner representing the South-South Zone, overseeing electoral actions in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Edo States. Agbamuche-Mbu was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 and reappointed in 2022, making her one of many longest-serving members of the Fee.
Tinubu Accepts Yakubu’s Exit As INEC Chair, Bestows CON Honour
President Bola Tinubu has accepted Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee following the expiration of his second time period in workplace.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 because the 14th chairman of the fee for an preliminary time period of 5 years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired as a result of passage of time.
In an announcement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his companies to the nation and his efforts to maintain Nigeria’s democracy, notably by means of the organisation of free and honest elections all through his two-term tenure.
In recognition of Yakubu’s devoted service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
President Tinubu additionally directed that Professor Yakubu hand over to probably the most senior nationwide commissioner, Might Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the fee’s affairs till the method of appointing a successor is accomplished.
Within the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the chance to serve the nation as fee chairman since 2015.
