President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in recognition of his service and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement released on Tuesday by presidential spokesperson Mr Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally accepted the terminal leave of the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and expressed appreciation for his dedicated service to the nation.
The President commended Professor Yakubu’s steadfast commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the conduct of credible, free, and fair elections during his two-term tenure.
Following the acceptance of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit note marking the end of his second term as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over the reins of the Commission to the most senior National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, is to oversee the affairs of the electoral body in an acting capacity pending the completion of the process for appointing a substantive successor.
In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time
