Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), on the outgoing chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in recognition of his dedication and integrity while serving as the chairman.
The president also accepted Yakubu’s departure as the national
chairman of INEC following the conclusion of his second term.
The President expressed gratitude to Yakubu for his significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, stewardship in conducting free and fair elections over the past decade.
“Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s committed service has strengthened our electoral system and deepened the roots of democracy in Nigeria.
“For this, the nation owes him a debt of gratitude.”
President Tinubu also instructed Yakubu to hand over the commission’s leadership to the senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will oversee its affairs until a new chairman is appointed.
In his farewell letter dated October 3, Professor Yakubu reflected on his tenure, stating, “I am deeply humbled to have served my country and grateful to President Tinubu for entrusting me with this crucial responsibility.”
He handed over to Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner, as the acting Chairman, pending the appointment of a new chairman for the commission.
Announcing his exit during the ongoing meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, where he signed his exit note, Yakubu thanked the country for the privilege given to him to serve and solicited for support for Agbamuche-Mbu until the appointment of a substantive chairman.
In his brief remarks, Yakubu thanked members of the commission for their cooperation during his tenure and urged them to extend the same level of support and professionalism to his successor.
Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, has served as an INEC national commissioner since 2016 and was reappointed in 2021 for a second term.
She has played key roles in election monitoring, legal compliance, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Her appointment as acting chairman follows standard administrative procedure, which allows the most senior national commissioner to temporarily assume leadership in the absence or transition of a substantive chair.