The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has officially handed over the affairs of the Commission to Mrs. May Agbaamuc he-Mbu, a National Commissioner, who will serve as Acting Chairman.
The development followed the expiration of Yakubu’s second term, marking the end of his tenure after serving as the nation’s chief electoral umpire since 2015. In a brief ceremony held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, Yakubu expressed gratitude to staff, Nigerians, and stakeholders for their support, noting that conducting credible elections is always a collective responsibility.
Mrs. Agbaamuc he-Mbu, a lawyer and former legal adviser, becomes the first woman to lead INEC, even in an acting capacity. She pledged continuity, stability, and institutional reforms, emphasizing that the Commission would remain focused on delivering transparent electoral processes.
Her assumption comes at a time when INEC is preparing for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and embarking on a review of the 2023 general elections.