President Bola Tinubu has accepted Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.
The President also conferred a national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger on the former electoral chief.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu thanked Yakubu for ‘his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure’.
The statement further read: ‘In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
‘President Tinubu also directed that Prof. Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor’.
In the letter dated 3 October 2025, Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.
