…Yakubu officially handed over the reins of INEC on Tuesday to May Agbamuche-Mbu.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | May Agbamuche-Mbu has resumed as acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the resignation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman, marking the end of a decade-long tenure defined by electoral reforms, controversy, and national scrutiny.
Yakubu, who served two terms after his initial appointment in 2015, officially handed over the reins on Tuesday to May Agbamuche-Mbu, a senior INEC national commissioner and legal luminary, who now assumes the position of Acting Chair pending the announcement of a substantive successor.
The President, in a show of appreciation, conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on Yakubu for his service to Nigeria’s democracy. A formal announcement on Yakubu’s replacement is expected after Thursday’s Council of State meeting in Abuja, where Tinubu is scheduled to present a list of nominees for consultation.
Tribute and Transition
A statement signed by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Tinubu appreciated Yakubu’s efforts in advancing electoral integrity. “President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections,” the statement read.
In line with constitutional protocol, Tinubu directed Yakubu to hand over to the most senior national commissioner, Agbamuche-Mbu. This was confirmed in a formal handover ceremony at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu, in a letter dated October 3, expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to lead INEC through some of Nigeria’s most critical elections.
10 Years of Electoral Reforms, Innovations, and Controversy
Yakubu’s decade at the helm saw the introduction of BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) technologies that revolutionised voter authentication and polling transparency. These were piloted in the 2021 Anambra governorship election and scaled up in the 2023 general elections under the mandates of the Electoral Act 2022.
He expanded voter access by increasing the number of polling units and institutionalised continuous voter registration, breaking away from the old pre-election cycle rush.
Yakubu also set up election monitoring systems, prioritised inclusion for persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons, and introduced priority voting for the elderly and vulnerable groups.
However, his tenure was not without setbacks. The 2023 general elections were marred by technical glitches, delayed transmission of results, and allegations of bias sparking widespread criticism from political stakeholders and the public. Despite these issues, Yakubu consistently emphasised INEC’s institutional neutrality and strict adherence to constitutional procedures.
In his farewell, Yakubu presented two publications documenting his decade-long reforms: “Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025” and “Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015–2025.”
“Above all, I thank Nigerians for their comments as well as criticisms, which encouraged rather than discouraged us to persevere,” he stated.
Who is May Agbamuche-Mbu?
Now acting as the electoral commission’s head, May Agbamuche-Mbu is no stranger to Nigeria’s legal and governance ecosystem. A Delta State indigene born in Kano, she earned her LLB from the University of Ife and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. She is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and holds an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, London.
She was appointed to INEC in 2016 and has served as its national commissioner representing the South-South. Prior to her role at the commission, Agbamuche-Mbu was a managing partner at Norfolk Partners, a law firm in Lagos, and also served as editor of the widely respected THISDAY LAWYER column, authoring over 120 editorials under the alias “Legal Eagle.”
Her expertise spans Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), public project assessment, and mineral sector reforms. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch, where she once served as Secretary.
Debate Over INEC Chair Appointment Powers
Yakubu’s departure has reignited long-standing debate over the method of appointing the INEC Chairman. While the President currently holds that power, subject to Senate confirmation, several senior legal voices have called for reforms to strengthen the process.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ifedayo Adedipe described the fixation on who appoints the chairman as a distraction. “The real issue lies in the conduct of political actors and citizens. The chairman does not come to polling units to bribe voters,” he said.
Echoing this view, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, stressed that Section 153 and 154 of the Constitution already provide for checks through Senate oversight, arguing: “There is nothing inherently wrong with the President making the appointment. What matters is the calibre of the appointee and the transparency of the process.”
Wale Balogun, SAN, also advocated for a credible selection process, stating that while the current framework can work, “the system is also weak, so weak that it may not be able to checkmate the President if he appoints someone unfit.”
Future Elections and Institutional Continuity
In his final remarks, Yakubu listed INEC’s plans for upcoming polls, including the Anambra governorship election next month, FCT council elections in February 2026, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026, and early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He noted the need to “clean up the voters’ register, review polling unit locations, and reform the management of party primaries.”
Despite the challenges, Yakubu declared, “We have made tremendous progress, but a lot more needs to be done.”
