President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), and has bestowed upon him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Yakubu, who first took up the role in November 2015, served a five-year term and was later reappointed in 2020. With his second term now concluded,
the President acknowledged Yakubu’s decade in office and his contributions to Nigeria’s electoral landscape. In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President expressed appreciation for Yakubu’s dedication and the role he played in sustaining democratic
processes across multiple election cycles. Yakubu himself, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to lead INEC over the past ten years.
The national honour of CON was conferred on Yakubu in recognition of his service to the nation, particularly in his oversight of general elections, off-cycle
polls, and efforts to enhance electoral credibility. Tinubu’s administration described the move as a gesture of respect for Yakubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s democracy.
Yakubu’s emergence as INEC chairman in 2015 made him the 14th leader of the commission, succeeding Amina Zakari. Over his tenure, INEC piloted innovations
such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Results Viewing Portal (IReV), which analysts say
strengthened transparency in elections. As Yakubu steps down, attention now turns to the appointment of his successor and the continuation of electoral reforms in anticipation of future elections.
Kindly Share this News!!!