JUST IN: NEW INTERIM INEC CHAIR ASSUMES LEADERSHIP

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BY MUNIRAT BALOGUN

A National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission, May Agbamuche-Mbu, will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Commission.

The declaration was made on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners.

This transition occurred following the official transfer of responsibilities by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who is commencing a terminal leave. Agbamuche is the longest-serving National Commissioner within the electoral organization.

He requested the cooperation of the commissioners and directors of the commission in support of Agbamuche, pending the selection of a permanent chairman.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu is concluding his tenure as INEC chairman, having fulfilled a two-term duration of ten years.

President Tinubu is anticipated to appoint his successor shortly, pending Senate ratification.

Yakubu was initially designated as INEC chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari to supervise the operations of the electoral authority in November 2015, six months after he took office as President.

He completed his first term as the head of the electoral body in 2020 and was reappointed for a second term by President Buhari.

Yakubu’s reappointment by President Buhari marked him as the first individual to serve as INEC chairman for two consecutive terms.

He succeeded Professor Attahiru Jega, overseeing INEC during numerous elections, including the general elections of 2019 and 2023.