Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially concluded his two terms as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a significant transition in Nigeria's electoral body. Appointed first in November 2015 and reappointed in 2020, Professor Yakubu became the first INEC chairman to complete two full five-year tenures, during which he presided over the 2019 and 2023 general elections, alongside numerous off-cycle and by-elections across the nation. His departure was acknowledged by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who expressed gratitude for his dedicated services to the nation and efforts in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organization of free and fair elections. In recognition of these contributions, President Tinubu bestowed upon Professor Yakubu the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Professor Yakubu had, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve.

Following Professor Yakubu's handover on Tuesday, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner at INEC, has assumed the role of acting chairman. Her official takeover occurred during an ongoing meeting with resident electoral commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu will oversee the commission's affairs pending the appointment of a substantive chairman. With a tenure as a national commissioner representing Delta, Edo, and Cross River states since 2016, she previously chaired INEC's legal services, clearance, and complaints committee, which addresses legal compliance and candidate qualification issues. Professor Yakubu urged all INEC staff, commissioners, and directors to extend their full support and cooperation to Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu during this transition period.

The departure of Professor Yakubu has also ignited discussions surrounding the future leadership of INEC and broader electoral reforms. President Bola Tinubu is expected to name a new chairman for the electoral agency soon, with the appointment anticipated to be a key agenda item at the forthcoming Council of State meeting slated for later this week. Concurrently, registered political parties, operating under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), have proposed a radical shift in the appointment process for INEC's leadership. During a consultative meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, advocated for the establishment of an Independent Appointment Committee (IAC). This proposed committee, comprising representatives from all registered political parties, civil society organizations, the National Judicial Council, and a bipartisan committee of the National Assembly drawn from both majority and minority caucuses, would assume the power to appoint the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Secretary. IPAC argues that divesting the President of this appointment power would significantly enhance the commission's independence, foster neutrality, and strengthen public trust in Nigeria's electoral integrity. Such an arrangement, they assert, would ensure inclusivity, transparency, and credibility in the selection of the nation's electoral umpire.