Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has officially assumed duties as the Acting Chairman of the Commission following the formal handover by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has proceeded on terminal leave ahead of the completion of his tenure.

 

The transition was formally announced at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

 

Agbamuche-Mbu, who has been the National Commissioner representing Delta, Cross River, and Edo States, will now oversee the affairs of the electoral body pending further directives from the Presidency.

 

Her appointment comes in line with a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who accepted Professor Yakubu’s disengagement following the expiration of his two-term tenure as INEC Chairman.

Professor Yakubu was first appointed as the 14th INEC Chairman in November 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and was reappointed for a second term in 2020, making him the first INEC boss to serve two full terms since the return to democracy in 1999.

 

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to lead the Commission, noting that it had been an honour to serve the nation through the stewardship of Nigeria’s electoral processes for a decade.

 

President Tinubu, in acknowledging Yakubu’s departure, thanked him for his contributions to the deepening of Nigeria’s democracy, especially through the conduct of multiple electoral cycles and reform initiatives aimed at strengthening voter confidence.

In recognition of his service, President Tinubu conferred on Professor Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). The President also directed him to handover to the most senior National Commissioner, which by rank is May Agbamuche-Mbu.

As Acting Chairman, Agbamuche-Mbu is expected to maintain continuity in the Commission’s operations while the process of appointing a substantive chairman is underway. Her leadership comes at a time when INEC is preparing for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and engaging in post-election reforms.

 

Observers say her tenure—however brief—will be critical in ensuring a seamless transition and preserving public trust in the Commission’s independence and integrity.

 

INEC is expected to release further updates on administrative continuity and the timelines for the appointment of a new chairman in the coming weeks.