President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission following the expiration of his second term in office.
Professor Yakubu, who was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the electoral body, served an initial five-year term before his reappointment in 2020. His tenure has now come to an end after a decade of service.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu expressed gratitude to Professor Yakubu for his contributions to the nation and his efforts in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy through the conduct of free and fair elections during his two-term tenure.
In recognition of his dedicated service, President Tinubu conferred on Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The President has directed that Professor Yakubu hand over leadership of the commission to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will oversee the affairs of INEC on an acting basis until the appointment process for a substantive chairman is completed.
In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve as chairman of the commission since 2015.
The transition comes at a critical time as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders closely watching to see who will be appointed to lead the electoral body into the next electoral cycle.
