INEC Chairman Yakubu Steps Down, Agbamuche-Mbu Takes Over

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Ends Tenure; May Agbamuche-Mbu Assumes Office as Acting Chair

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has concluded his tenure following the expiration of his constitutionally allowed second and final five-year term, which officially ends in November 2025.

In line with the transition, INEC National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee, May Agbamuche-Mbu, a seasoned legal practitioner, has assumed leadership of the commission in an acting capacity.

The announcement was made during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, where Prof. Yakubu reflected on his years of service and expressed heartfelt appreciation to INEC staff and RECs for their dedication, professionalism, and hard work throughout his tenure.

A source within the commission noted that Yakubu’s exit aligns with constitutional provisions limiting the INEC chairmanship to two terms. He had earlier completed his first term in November 2020, after which he was reappointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a second term.

Born in Bauchi State, Prof. Yakubu began his education at Kobi Primary School and Government Teachers College, Toro. He earned a First-Class degree in History from the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University). He went on to obtain a Master’s degree in International Relations from Wolfson College, Cambridge, in 1987, and a Doctorate in Nigerian History from the University of Oxford in 1991.

A distinguished scholar, Yakubu was sponsored by the Bauchi State Government for his postgraduate studies and received several prestigious awards, including the Overseas Research Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities.