President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on Professor Mahmood Yakubu following his departure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Yakubu, whose second tenure was due to end in November, announced his exit on Tuesday after serving the commission for 10 years. He handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, who will act as INEC Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive successor.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu thanked Yakubu for his dedicated service to the nation and for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy through credible elections.

Yakubu, first appointed in November 2015, had his initial five-year tenure renewed in 2020. Explaining his decision to step down early, he said it was to allow his successor to assume office smoothly and prepare for forthcoming elections.

The handover ceremony took place at INEC headquarters in Abuja during a regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). Yakubu expressed gratitude to the commission’s staff, national commissioners, political parties, civil society groups, security agencies, and Nigerians for their support and constructive criticism over the years.

During his tenure, INEC achieved significant milestones, including consolidating the biometric voters’ register, digitising candidate nominations, accreditation processes, polling, and result management. He also oversaw the introduction of technological innovations to improve election logistics, staff training, monitoring, and management of party finances.

Yakubu revealed that preparations have already begun for the Anambra governorship election in November, FCT Area Council polls, and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026, alongside preliminary planning for the 2027 general elections, awaiting passage of a new Electoral Act.

In her brief remarks, Acting INEC Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu lauded Yakubu’s leadership, pledging to maintain the standards he set and to uphold the integrity of the commission. She assured stakeholders of the commission’s commitment to professionalism and collaboration under her stewardship.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of two books chronicling Yakubu’s decade-long tenure: Election Management in Nigeria 2015–2025 and Electoral Technology 2015–2025. Yakubu signed the official handover documents, formally transferring responsibilities to Agbamuche-Mbu.