PROFESSOR Mahmood Yakubu has handed over to May Agbamuche as the Acting National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), News Point Nigeria gathered.
The development, which marks a major shake-up in Nigeria’s electoral leadership, was confirmed on Tuesday at the ongoing meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Professor Yakubu’s two- term 10-year tenure is schedule to end in November as he has led the Commission since 2015.
He formally announced his exit on Tuesday and handed over to Agbamuche-Mbu, urging management staff and commissioners to extend their full support to her as she steers the affairs of the electoral body pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
“I have today handed over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission until a substantive replacement is appointed,” Yakubu said.
“I appeal to all Commissioners, Directors, and staff of the Commission to give her the same cooperation and dedication you have shown me over the years.”
The transition comes amid ongoing preparations by INEC for several off-cycle governorship elections and anticipated reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer and seasoned administrator, is the oldest serving National Commissioner on the Commission, representing Delta State and the South-South geopolitical zone.
Her elevation to Acting Chair aligns with the Commission’s internal succession protocol, which designates the most senior National Commissioner to assume leadership in an acting capacity whenever the office of the Chairman becomes vacant.
A senior official at the Commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the move as “a seamless administrative transition consistent with constitutional provisions and the INEC Establishment Act.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who succeeded Professor Attahiru Jega in 2015, served two consecutive terms as INEC Chairman, one of the longest tenures in the Commission’s history.
Under his leadership, INEC conducted the 2019 and 2023 general elections, as well as numerous by-elections and governorship polls.
His tenure was marked by significant electoral reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, both aimed at enhancing transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Presidency sources told News Point Nigeria that the decision to appoint Agbamuche-Mbu as acting boss before a substantive Chairman was part of President Tinubu’s broader plan to reposition INEC, strengthen institutional integrity, and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
According to senior government officials, the President is expected to forward the name of a new substantive INEC Chairman to the National Assembly for confirmation “in the coming days.”
The shake-up follows recent consultations between the President and members of the Council of State, where the need for credible electoral reforms was reportedly discussed as part of the administration’s democratic renewal agenda.
Agbamuche-Mbu is a distinguished legal practitioner with over three decades of experience spanning both the public and private sectors. A native of Delta State, she was born in Kano, where she began her education at St. Louis Secondary School.
She earned her LL.B. in Law from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985.
Seeking further academic excellence, she proceeded to the College of Law, London, qualifying as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. She also holds an LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, and completed two postgraduate degrees in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
An expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch, where she once served as Secretary. Her professional career includes notable national assignments, she was the sole solicitor on the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) between 2010 and 2011, assessing major public infrastructure projects across Nigeria, and later served on the Ministerial Committee that produced the Road Map for the Solid Minerals Sector in 2016.
Before her appointment as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2016, she was the Managing Partner at Norfolk Partners, a Lagos-based law firm. She also distinguished herself in legal journalism as the Editor of THISDAY LAWYER, where she wrote the influential column “Legal Eagle”, publishing over 120 legal editorials between 2014 and 2016.
Through her professional practice, public service, and legal commentary, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu has built a strong reputation as a reformer, public advocate, and thought leader in law, governance, and institutional accountability.
Following the announcement, staff and Resident Electoral Commissioners expressed mixed reactions, with many describing the handover as “expected” given the end of Yakubu’s tenure.
“Professor Yakubu has done his part. It’s now time for a new chapter,” said one senior official. “The Acting Chair brings a wealth of experience and stability to the Commission.”