- Safiu Kehinde
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has handed over his role as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to May Agbamuche following the conclusion of his tenure.
Mahmood who had been at the helm of the Commission’s affairs since 2015 announced his handing over on Tuesday at the ongoing meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
He handed over to Agbamuche who is considered the oldest serving National Commissioner in the electoral body.
Agbamuche, who represents Cross River State on the Commission, will oversee the affairs of INEC in an acting capacity pending further directives from the Presidency.
Yakubu’s tenure saw him oversee two general elections, 2019 and 2023, as well as several off-cycle polls across the country.
Meanwhile, his conduct of the 2023 election which saw the emergence of President Bola Tinubu was marred with controversies over alleged electoral malpractices.
Despite the introduction and deployment of modern technology which included the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and real-time upload of results on INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), the election was largely criticised.
His replacement had since become issue of national discourse and debate as opposition political leaders and, political analysts, and stakeholders await Tinubu’s announcement of Mahmood’s successor which, according to some factions would largely influence the outcome of the forthcoming 2027 general election.