After a full decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially stepped aside as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Yakubu, who was first appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, completed two terms of five years each, navigating Nigeria through some of its most challenging and controversial elections.
On Tuesday, October 7th, Yakubu formally handed over leadership to National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will now serve as Acting Chairman of the Commission pending the appointment of a new substantive head.
Tinubu to Appoint New INEC Chairman Soon
All eyes are now on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to announce a new INEC Chairman in the coming days. Sources suggest that the matter will be on the agenda at the Council of State meeting scheduled for later this week in Abuja.
The Council, made up of past presidents, state governors, and other top officials, typically weighs in on sensitive national appointments, including those affecting electoral governance.
While handing over to Agbamuche, Prof. Yakubu urged INEC staff to support the Acting Chair during this transitional period.
Meanwhile, registered political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) are calling for major reforms in the way Nigeria appoints its electoral umpires.
At a consultative meeting on constitutional review held in Abuja, IPAC National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, proposed the creation of an Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) to take over the responsibility of selecting INEC’s top officials.
Dr. Dantalle said the new committee should include representatives of all registered political parties, civil society organisations, the National Judicial Council, and both majority and minority blocs of the National Assembly.
According to him, this structure would guarantee transparency, neutrality, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process—an issue that has long been a source of tension and mistrust among political players.
A Decade of Electoral Trials and Lessons
Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s time in office was marked by both praise and criticism. From the 2019 general elections, which were marred by delays and allegations of vote-buying, to the 2023 polls that drew mixed reactions over the role of technology and INEC’s transparency, Yakubu remained a central figure in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
His departure comes at a time when conversations around electoral integrity, political inclusiveness, and institutional independence are dominating the national discourse.
As the nation awaits President Tinubu’s pick for the next INEC boss, one thing is clear: the demand for a truly independent electoral system is louder than ever.
