By Mary Onyia
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred a national honour on the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, just hours after he announced his resignation.
Yakubu, who had led the electoral body since 2015, announced his resignation on Tuesday during the quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. He subsequently handed over the reins to the most senior national commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche, who will serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed in a statement that President Tinubu has accepted Yakubu’s resignation. He added that the outgoing chairman was directed to hand over to Mrs. Agbamuche to oversee the commission’s affairs until the transition process is completed.
In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation, noting that his decade-long stewardship witnessed far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system.
During his tenure, Yakubu oversaw the digital transformation of the electoral process — including biometric voter registration, electronic result transmission, and the introduction of online nomination and monitoring systems.
“Together, we built a foundation for credible elections in Africa’s largest democracy,” he stated.