By Erewunmi Peace

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has officially stepped aside following the expiration of his tenure.

Yakubu handed over the leadership of the Commission to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the National Commissioner for Legal Services, who will now serve as the Acting Chairman of INEC pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the electoral body and in multiple reports by The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Legit.ng.

In his handover remarks, Professor Yakubu expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the opportunity to serve and highlighted the Commission’s achievements under his leadership, including improvements in electoral technology, logistics, and transparency.

“It has been a privilege to serve our country and strengthen our democratic institutions. I am confident that the Commission will continue to uphold integrity and professionalism under new leadership,” Yakubu stated.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer and long-serving National Commissioner representing Delta, Cross River, and Edo States, assured staff of continuity and dedication to credible elections across Nigeria.

“We will consolidate on the reforms and ensure that INEC remains a trusted institution in our democracy,” she said.

Professor Yakubu, appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, completed his second five-year term as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.