Abuja – Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has embarked on terminal leave, bringing to a close his decade-long leadership of the country’s electoral management body. The transition was marked by a low-key ceremony at INEC headquarters on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, where Yakubu formally handed over responsibilities to National Commissioner May Agbamuche.
Appointed in 2015 by late President Muhammadu Buhari for an initial term, Yakubu served two consecutive terms overseeing critical elections shaping Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. “I am proud of strides made in advancing Nigeria’s electoral processes, though challenges persist,” Yakubu noted at the handover.
With Yakubu’s exit imminent, President Bola Tinubu is set to initiate formal succession steps. Sources confirm the President will meet the Council of State on Thursday, October 9, 2025, proposing a candidate for approval as the next INEC chairman. “President Tinubu aims for seamless continuity as Nigeria anticipates future polls,” an informed source disclosed.
Professor Yakubu’s leadership witnessed Nigeria conduct several general elections amid debates on electoral conduct. National Commissioner Agbamuche, assuming interim oversight, pledged steadfastness. “INEC remains dedicated to delivering credible polls pivotal to Nigeria’s democracy,” Agbamuche affirmed.
Yakubu’s departure stirs interest in who’ll succeed him and implications for Nigeria’s electoral administration going forward. Stakeholders await outcomes keenly, underscoring INEC’s centrality in Nigeria’s governance framework.
