The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted, as Professor Mahmood Yakubu formally handed over the reins to May Agbamuche-Mbu, who now serves as Acting National Chairman of the commission. The transition took place on Tuesday at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
New Acting Chair Emerges
Agbamuche-Mbu, the longest-serving National Commissioner in INEC’s current lineup, assumed leadership by virtue of seniority and consensus among national commissioners. She is currently the chair of INEC’s Legal Services, Clearance & Complaints Committee (LSCCC), a critical portfolio tasked with ensuring legal compliance, candidate screening, and adjudication of electoral disputes.
Her elevation comes under the constitutional and institutional mechanisms that guide transitions when a substantive chairman’s tenure ends. As Acting Chairman, she will lead the commission’s day-to-day operations pending the appointment of a full, substantive chairman by the President and confirmation by the Senate.
Yakubu’s Exit: Timing, Legacy, and Transition
Professor Yakubu’s handover is timely. His second and final five-year term is due to expire in November 2025, marking ten years of leadership during which INEC underwent substantial modernization and reform. He began as Chairman in November 2015 and was reappointed in 2020, making him the first to lead the commission for two full terms.
At the meeting, Yakubu cited constitutional provisions limiting tenure in public office as the guiding rationale for relinquishing his role at this moment. He thanked commissioners, directors, Resident Electoral Commissioners, staff, security agencies, civil society, and all stakeholders for their collaboration. He described his decade at the helm as “challenging and rewarding,” recalling the many elections conducted under his watch, as well as the institutional and technological upgrades the commission undertook.
Yakubu urged INEC’s leadership and staff to accord Agbamuche-Mbu their full support and cooperation, stressing that continuity and stability are vital during the transitional period.
Profile of May Agbamuche-Mbu
May Agbamuche-Mbu brings a wealth of legal and administrative experience to her acting role:
- She is a seasoned lawyer with over three decades in both public and private sector practice.
- Although her roots are in Delta State, she was born and raised in Kano, where she attended St. Louis Secondary School.
- She earned her LL.B in 1984 from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985.
- She also qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales and holds an LL.M in Commercial & Corporate Law from Queen Mary & Westfield College, London.
- Her further postgraduate credentials include specialization in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
- In addition, she is an expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK, Nigeria branch).
- Before her INEC appointment, she was Managing Partner of Norfolk Partners in Lagos and edited the “THISDAY LAWYER” legal publication.
- Within the commission, she has supervised key states (Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa) and led operations in legal compliance through LSCCC.
Observers believe her familiarity with internal operations, legal frameworks, and institutional processes positions her well to lead during this changeover.
Challenges Ahead & Expectations
The transition comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s electoral landscape. With off-cycle governorship elections, continuous voter registration, and ongoing electoral reforms under way, the acting chairman will need to sustain momentum, ensure institutional cohesion, and reassure stakeholders of impartiality and effectiveness.
Some specific challenges she is likely to face include:
- Ensuring continuity of ongoing electoral projects and reforms without disruption
- Managing internal staff morale and expectations during leadership transition
- Maintaining the balance of independence, transparency, and impartiality amid political pressures
- Overseeing completion of preparatory works for imminent elections and ensuring legal compliance in candidate screening
- Facilitating stakeholder engagement, including political parties, civil society, security agencies, and international observers
The process for appointment of a substantive INEC Chairman is expected to commence soon. President Bola Tinubu is anticipated to nominate a candidate, which will then be subject to Senate confirmation. Observers and civil society groups have already called for transparency in the selection process, urging that it be open and merit-based.
Reactions and Public Sentiment
The leadership change has drawn comment from various quarters:
- Some civil societies have welcomed Agbamuche-Mbu’s appointment, citing her depth of experience and institutional knowledge as assets during a transitional period.
- Others have cautioned that leadership in acting capacity poses limitations and called for an expedited appointment of a substantive chairman to avoid ambiguity.
- In previous months, staff grievances had surfaced alleging centralized decision making, withheld allowances, and perceived marginalization — criticisms that some commentators say underscore the importance of inclusive leadership in the next regime. (The Whistler reported that some INEC employees had demanded the removal of Yakubu over internal management concerns.)
- Political parties and stakeholders will closely watch how the acting chair handles upcoming electoral processes, particularly regarding candidate screening and dispute resolution.
