The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a new acting chairman as Professor Mahmood Yakubu officially handed over leadership to National Commissioner May Agbamuche on Tuesday in Abuja.
Agbamuche, the longest-serving National Commissioner at INEC, will oversee the commission’s affairs until President Bola Tinubu appoints a new substantive chairman, subject to Senate approval.
The handover took place during a meeting with INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and directors at the commission’s headquarters. Yakubu urged the commissioners and staff to give their full support to Agbamuche during this transition period.
Professor Yakubu’s departure marks the end of his 10-year tenure at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body. He was first appointed in November 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, just six months after Buhari assumed office. In 2020, Yakubu was reappointed for a second five-year term, becoming the first INEC chairman in Nigeria’s history to serve two consecutive terms.
During his time in office, Yakubu oversaw the conduct of major national elections, including the 2019 and 2023 general elections. He succeeded Professor Attahiru Jega, under whose leadership Nigeria saw significant electoral reforms.
Yakubu’s tenure witnessed a number of reforms and innovations, such as the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which aimed to increase transparency and credibility in the electoral process. However, his leadership also faced criticism over issues such as election logistics, delays, and controversies surrounding result announcements.
May Agbamuche, a lawyer by profession, now assumes responsibility for leading INEC through this interim period. Her appointment as acting chairman is in line with INEC’s internal policy, which allows the most senior national commissioner to temporarily take over when the chairman’s position becomes vacant.
Nigerians now await President Tinubu’s choice for the next INEC chairman—a role that remains crucial to the country’s democratic process.
As the electoral commission prepares for upcoming off-cycle elections and other duties, all eyes will be on Agbamuche’s ability to maintain stability and credibility until a permanent successor is named.
