Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will now serve as the Acting Chairman of the Commission.
Yakubu has officially bowed out as INEC Chairman after nearly a decade at the helm.
He was formally informed of his successor before meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Tuesday, where he announced his decision to leave office a month ahead of schedule.
His departure marks the end of a ten-year tenure during which he served two consecutive terms as the head of Nigeria’s electoral body.
“Mahmood Yakubu handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, an INEC Commissioner, after a brief ceremony at the INEC headquarters on Tuesday, where RECs and senior officials were present,” a top government source said.
Earlier on Tuesday, barring any last-minute changes, President Bola Tinubu was expected to nominate Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) to succeed Prof. Yakubu as the INEC National Chairman.
To formalise the appointment, the President had scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for this Thursday. Amupitan is both a kinsman and longtime legal counsel for Senator Dino Melaye.
Amupitan had reportedly emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Yakubu as the INEC National Chairman.
President Tinubu had earlier directed Yakubu to proceed on leave before the official end of his tenure.
