The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has officially concluded his tenure as head of the commission, marking the end of his second and final five-year term, which expires in November 2025.
Following his exit, May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee, has assumed leadership of the commission in an acting capacity.
Yakubu announced his departure on Tuesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. According to a source within the commission, the decision aligns with constitutional term limits, as Yakubu had similarly stepped down in November 2020 at the end of his first term before being renominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a second term.
In a farewell address, an emotional Yakubu expressed deep appreciation to INEC staff and RECs for their dedication, professionalism, and resilience, which he said were instrumental in advancing electoral reforms and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy during his leadership.
Born in Bauchi State, Yakubu attended Kobi Primary School and Government Teachers College, Toro, before earning a First-Class degree in History from the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University).
He obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations from Wolfson College, Cambridge in 1987 and a Doctorate in Nigerian History from the University of Oxford in 1991. His academic pursuits were supported by the Bauchi State Government, and he was a recipient of both the Overseas Research Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
