PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.
Yakubu, who first assumed office in November 2015 as the 14th Chairman of INEC, completed his second and final five-year term, which began in 2020, thereby bringing to an end nearly a decade of stewardship at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga sent to News Point Nigeria, on Tuesday, President Tinubu expressed profound appreciation to Professor Yakubu for his “distinguished service to the nation” and for his “notable contributions toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.”
The President particularly lauded Yakubu’s commitment to credible electoral processes, noting that his leadership helped shape the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections across the country throughout his two-term tenure.
In recognition of his outstanding service and dedication, President Tinubu has conferred on Professor Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Furthermore, the President directed that Yakubu hand over to the most senior National Commissioner at INEC, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor.
In his response, Professor Yakubu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him since 2015, and for the opportunity to serve the Nigerian people through one of the country’s most sensitive public institutions.
Yakubu’s tenure witnessed significant electoral reforms, the introduction of innovative technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and IReV, as well as multiple general elections conducted under his supervision.
