President Bola Tinubu has accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). This recognition comes after Yakubu’s decade-long service as INEC Chairman, overseeing two general elections in 2019 and 2023, as well as several off-cycle polls.
Yakubu’s tenure was marked by significant electoral reforms, including the introduction of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC result viewing (iReV) portal.. These innovations aimed to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process. During his farewell ceremony, Yakubu reflected on his achievements and thanked his colleagues and stakeholders for their support.
In a statement, President Tinubu commended Yakubu for his dedication to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and organizing free and fair elections. The President also directed that May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, take over as Acting Chairman of INEC pending the appointment of a substantive successor. Yakubu’s exit marks the end of an era for Nigeria’s electoral system.
As Yakubu hands over the leadership of INEC to Agbamuche-Mbu, the commission is set to tackle a busy electoral calendar, including the Anambra governorship election in November and the 2027 general elections. Yakubu’s legacy and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process have been widely acknowledged, and his national honour is a testament to his commitment to public service.
