The Head of Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has formally handed over the leadership of the Commission to Barrister May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as the Acting National Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Agbamuche-Mbu, the oldest serving National Commissioner at INEC, will oversee the Commission’s activities in an interim capacity, ensuring continuity in the management of the nation’s electoral processes.
Her appointment comes at a crucial time as INEC prepares for several off-cycle governorship elections and begins preliminary arrangements ahead of future national electoral exercises.
Professor Yakubu, who has led the Commission since 2015, is bowing out after completing his tenure marked by key electoral reforms and the deployment of technology such as the BVAS and IReV portal, which have reshaped Nigeria’s voting system.
Barrister Agbamuche-Mbu, a seasoned legal practitioner and administrator, is expected to bring her wealth of experience in law and governance to bear in steering the affairs of the Commission during the transition period.
The Presidency is expected to announce a substantive replacement in the coming weeks following consultations with the Council of State on Thursday and other relevant constitutional bodies subsequently.