President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the completion of his second term in office.
In recognition of his service to the nation, President Tinubu conferred on Professor Yakubu the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Professor Yakubu, who first assumed office in November 2015 as the 14th INEC Chairman, served two consecutive five-year terms after being reappointed in 2020. During his tenure, the commission conducted the 2019 and 2023 general elections, as well as several off-cycle and by-elections across Nigeria.
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In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu commended Professor Yakubu for his “dedicated service to the nation and steadfast commitment to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.”
According to Onanuga, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country as INEC Chairman for nearly a decade, noting that it was a privilege to contribute to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic process.