BREAKING: INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Resigns After 10 Years in Office

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has resigned after 10 years in office.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Professor Mahmood Yakubu has stepped down as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after a decade of steering Nigeria’s electoral process.

Yakubu announced his resignation on Tuesday during the commission’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, describing the gathering as his final session as INEC Chairman.

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According to him, the decision to step aside aligns with Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, and is aimed at ensuring a smooth leadership transition as the commission prepares for a busy election calendar.

Following his announcement, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner at INEC, was unanimously selected to serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a new substantive head by the President.

Reflecting on his decade-long tenure, Yakubu highlighted the commission’s transformation through major digital and administrative reforms introduced under his leadership.

“We have built a more transparent, technology-driven electoral system that will continue to evolve,” he said.

During his time in office, INEC introduced key innovations such as biometric voter registration, electronic result transmission, and online portals for candidate nomination and election monitoring, initiatives widely seen as milestones in Nigeria’s democratic development.

Yakubu expressed appreciation to political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their collaboration and commitment to credible elections.

As part of his farewell, he unveiled two new publications documenting his years in office:

• Election Management in Nigeria (2015–2025), and

• Innovations in Electoral Technology (2015–2025) — both now available on the INEC website.

His resignation comes at a critical time for the electoral body, which is gearing up for several major polls, including the Anambra governorship election next month, the FCT Area Council polls in February 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections later that year.

Preparations for the 2027 general elections are also underway.

Yakubu concluded the session with a farewell photograph alongside national commissioners before formally handing over to Agbamuche-Mbu, marking the end of an era in Nigeria’s electoral leadership.