Abuja, Nigeria – October 8, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the successful completion of his second five-year term in office.
Professor Yakubu, who was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of INEC, served a decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body. He was reappointed in 2020, becoming the first chairman in the commission’s history to serve two full terms.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended Professor Yakubu for his dedication and significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process. The President praised Yakubu’s efforts in overseeing credible and transparent elections throughout his tenure.
“As a mark of appreciation for his service to the nation and his commitment to strengthening democracy, President Tinubu has conferred on Professor Yakubu the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON),” the statement read.
Yakubu’s tenure was marked by key electoral reforms, the introduction of new technologies to improve election transparency, and efforts to increase public trust in the electoral system.
No successor has been officially named as of press time.