Tinubu Praises Outgoing INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Describes His Tenure as Era of Free and Fair Elections

Abuja, October 7, 2025 — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, describing his tenure as one that upheld the principles of free and fair elections across Nigeria.

Tinubu’s remarks were contained in an official statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following Yakubu’s formal exit from office on Tuesday after completing his second term.

The statement confirmed that Yakubu had officially handed over to the most senior national commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as acting chairman pending a substantive appointment. Tinubu acknowledged Yakubu’s “dedicated service to the nation” and thanked him for his role in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure,” the statement read.

In recognition of his contributions, Tinubu announced that Yakubu would be conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for his commitment to credible electoral processes and public service.

Yakubu, who first assumed office in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission, served two full terms of five years each, with his reappointment coming in 2020. During his tenure, he oversaw major electoral cycles, including the 2019 and 2023 general elections, both of which sparked intense national debate and scrutiny.

In his parting remarks, Yakubu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and called on his former colleagues at INEC to give full cooperation to the acting chairperson. “I appreciate the trust reposed in me to lead the Commission for nearly a decade. I urge INEC staff to continue to uphold professionalism and integrity in the service of our democracy,” Yakubu said.

However, public reactions to Tinubu’s glowing tribute were divided. While supporters of the President praised Yakubu’s administration for improving logistics, introducing technology like BVAS and IReV, and conducting nationwide polls despite security challenges, critics questioned the credibility of his claim of “free and fair” elections.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a book published earlier this year, sharply criticized Yakubu’s conduct of elections, alleging that the commission under his leadership “polluted and grossly undermined” the democratic process. Obasanjo wrote, “Most politicians believe in the will of tribunal judges rather than the will of the people, as the INEC under Yakubu made his will greater than that of Nigerians.”

On social media, reactions were equally polarized. Some Nigerians hailed Yakubu as a reformer who modernized election management, while others accused him of presiding over one of the most controversial elections in recent history.

A user wrote, “A beneficiary of a heist will always call it providence,” while another commented, “If the election was free and fair, then why were the BVAS results delayed and inconsistencies ignored?” Yet, others defended the process, arguing that no election is perfect but that Nigeria’s system showed measurable progress.

Despite the criticism, Tinubu maintained that Yakubu’s leadership represented a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey, stressing that the electoral umpire under his watch introduced innovations that improved transparency and voter confidence.

As the nation awaits the appointment of a new INEC chairman, attention has turned to the incoming leadership and its ability to address public concerns about transparency, result transmission, and electoral integrity.

For many observers, Yakubu’s departure marks the end of a turbulent yet transformative chapter in Nigeria’s electoral history — one defined by both technological advancements and enduring controversies.