After Tuesday’s temporary handover of the administration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, seasoned legal practitioner and long-serving INEC Commissioner, as Acting Chairman, three personalities have been penciled Wien for appointment as substantive successor to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who proceeded on retirement leave.
Prod. Yakubu has in the handover letter dated October 3, 2025, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the privilege of serving the country through the commission.
At a brief ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu formally handed over to Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, saying his decision to step down was in line with Section 306 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The retiring INEC boss explained that the move would allow sufficient time for the appointment of a new chairman and a smooth transition ahead of upcoming elections, including the Anambra governorship election next month and other off-cycle polls in 2026.
It is expected that President Tinubu will present the list of his nominees for the position of INEC Chairman before the Council of State at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday), at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
The Council includes former heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former and incumbent Senate president’s; all state governors, and former and incumbent Chief Justices of Nigeria, who will advise the President before he announces a substantive replacement.
At the moment, three eminent Nigerians are said to be under consideration for the position.
They include: Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman (rtd), and Prof. Lai Olurode.
Our reporters gathered that Justice Liman and Prof. Amupitan, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, are favoured for the job.
Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, a retired Court of Appeal Justice from Nasarawa State, and Professor Lai Olurode, a sociologist and former INEC National Commissioner from Lagos State, are also reportedly being considered.
Amupitan, born in 1967 in Kogi State, is a respected scholar and legal practitioner with specialisation in Corporate Law, Privatisation Law, and Corporate Governance.
Professor Yakubu, who was appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, made history as the first INEC chairman to serve two consecutive terms.
During his tenure, he oversaw the 2019 and 2023 general elections, expanded the number of polling units nationwide, introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and launched the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency.
He institutionalised continuous voter registration, prioritised accessibility for persons with disabilities, and strengthened election monitoring and logistics systems.
Despite the many challenges and credibility tests he faced as the helmsman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu, is not in any doubt for preserving INEC’s institutional independence even under immense political pressure.
“Indeed, we have made tremendous progress, but a lot more needs to be done,” Yakubu said during his farewell address.
As he bowed out, the outgoing INEC chairman expressed hope that his successor would build upon existing reforms and further entrench credibility and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral system.
