INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Steps Down Early

Professor Mahmood Yakubu has stepped down as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ending his decade-long tenure a month before its official expiration.

He handed over the leadership of the commission to May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will now serve as Acting Chairman.

Yakubu’s departure was confirmed on Tuesday during a brief handover ceremony held at INEC headquarters in Abuja. Resident Electoral Commissioners and senior officials of the commission were present as he formally transferred responsibilities to Agbamuche-Mbu.

His exit marks the close of a ten-year chapter that began in 2015 when he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Yakubu’s two-term leadership saw major election cycles, administrative reforms, and several controversies that shaped Nigeria’s electoral system.

The decision to step down earlier than scheduled comes amid growing political tension surrounding his relationship with the current administration. Sources revealed that President Bola Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on terminal leave ahead of the end of his tenure in December 2025.

Government insiders said the move followed concerns raised by key figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress, who accused the outgoing chairman of actions viewed as unfavourable to the party. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was reported to have briefed the president, alleging that Yakubu’s last-minute activities, including attempts to register new political parties, were seen as disruptive to the president’s re-election strategy.

Following the directive, several INEC meetings—including Yakubu’s final consultations with political parties and civil society groups—were abruptly cancelled, signalling his imminent exit from office.

Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the process of appointing a substantive chairman. President Tinubu is expected to nominate Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Yakubu’s successor. A meeting of the Council of State has reportedly been scheduled to formalise the appointment.

Amupitan, a legal scholar and longtime associate of Senator Dino Melaye, is said to have emerged as the leading candidate to take over the electoral body’s top position.

Yakubu, who was first sworn in on November 9, 2015, was reappointed for a second term on December 1, 2020. His tenure oversaw two general elections and several off-cycle polls, leaving behind a legacy that continues to spark mixed reactions across political circles.

With Agbamuche-Mbu now in charge, the commission enters a transitional phase expected to last until a new substantive chairman is confirmed by the Senate.