By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral commission on Tuesday exited office, handing over to the most senior National Commissioner in the body.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has been in office since 2015, exited after completing his two-term tenure of 10 years. He handed over to May Agbamuche as INEC Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive head.
Professor Yakubu announced his exit at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the capital, Abuja.
He solicited the support of the commissioners and directors of the commission for Agbamuche, until the appointment of a substantive chairman.
Yakubu was first appointed the INEC chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the activities of the electoral umpire in November 2015, six months after he assumed the office as the West African nation’s leader.
He took over from Professor Attahiru Jega. He has overseen two general elections as INEC chairman — 2019 and 2023 for which he was criticised by the opposition over the failure of the commission to transmit election results real time as promised.
Prof. Yakubu has also presided over off-season elections, including governorship and parliamentary polls.
With Yakubu having completed his tenure at the helm of INEC affairs, Nigerians, along with civil society organisations, are looking forward to seeing who succeeds him.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to appoint his successor soon, subject to a Senate confirmation.
